The Feb. 21 Kokua Line column (808ne.ws/221kline) provided information about the city’s overhaul of Windward Oahu bus routes. Jon Nouchi, deputy director of the city’s Department of Transportation Services, answers questions left pending last week:
Question: A reader attended the Feb. 15 Kaneohe Neighborhood Board expecting to air concerns about proposed changes to Kaneohe-Honolulu routes. He said no one from TheBus was present. Is that true? The project website (808ne.ws/windbus2) says DTS would discuss the changes at Windward neighborhood board meetings in January and February.
Answer: “Department of Transportation Services (DTS) staff for TheBus’ Windward changes did not attend the February meeting of the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board (NB) because that topic was not on the agenda. However, brochures, notices and comment forms were distributed by DTS Complete Streets staff who attended the February meeting.
“In December 2017, the DTS reached out to the six affected neighborhood boards between North Shore and Hawaii Kai via email informing them that DTS was proposing modifications to TheBus routes that serve Windward Oahu. A copy of the 2018 Windward TheBus Routes Redesign Guide for Public Review and Comment (Redesign Guide) was included for reference. Board chairs were informed that DTS was available to present and discuss the changes at NB meetings during January and February 2018, and were requested to contact DTS to schedule a presentation. To date, Waimanalo, Kahaluu and Kailua neighborhood boards scheduled presentations.”
The project website also says route changes will be finalized March to April and implemented June to August, but Nouchi said those dates are not firm.
“Modifications to TheBus Windward service are a process that will occur in two phases: Phase One is initial planning and Phase Two is implementation. Both phases include extensive public outreach/input. DTS is currently in Phase One, informing the public of the initial route proposals and the expected timelines, which are subject to change. After public input is evaluated and final routing proposals determined, Phase Two will be initiated with the second round of public outreach/input, including distribution of the updated Redesign Guide with updated timelines, and neighborhood board presentations.”
Q: Is there any place for passengers to get details about the proposal besides online?
A: “Due to the large amount of information, route detail and maps, the best place for the public to view the comprehensive proposal is to visit TheBus website” (808ne.ws/windbus2). But in addition to this online information:
>> Bus operators distributed paper copies of the redesign guide and notices to riders on bus routes Express 85, 85A, 87, 88, 88A, 89, PH4 and PH5; and Local 55, 56, 57, 57A, 65, 70 and 77.
>> DTS distributed paper copies of the redesign guide and notices to the main state library; to public libraries in Kahuku, Kailua, Kaneohe and Waimanalo; and to the Waimanalo, Kahaluu and Kaneohe neighborhood boards.
>> Placards are posted on all buses, and notices are posted at selected bus stops.
>> Notices were sent to the Windward City, Fort Street Mall and Ala Moana satellite city halls.
>> Electronic copies of the redesign guide and notices were sent to the Waimanalo, Kailua, Kaneohe, Kahaluu, Koolauloa and North Shore neighborhood boards; Marine Corps Base Hawaii; Le Jardin Academy; Windward Mall; and Windward Community College.
>> DTS mails out information upon request.
To offer feedback, call DTS at 768-8368 (voicemail) or 768-8367, or TheBus at 768-9890 (voicemail); email thebusstop@honolulu.gov; or fill out a limited survey at 808ne.ws/bussurvey.
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
