Question: The traffic signal at University Avenue and Coyne Street in Moiliili is still not operating. Will it be turned on soon? In October, after installation of the lights was completed months earlier, you said the city was awaiting Hawaiian Electric Co. to complete its work. No target date was given other than before the cycle track was completed, by November or December.
Answer: News flash: The traffic signal at the University/Coyne intersection is scheduled to be fully activated Monday.
Part of the delay is because of a breakdown in communication between Hawaiian Electric and the city Department of Transportation Services.
The King Street Cycle Track opened Dec. 6, but DTS told Kokua Line on Jan. 12 that the city was still waiting for HECO to complete its work on the traffic signal.
However, when we contacted HECO to ask why it was taking so long, we were told its work was completed in mid-December, which came as a surprise to DTS and its contractor.
"According to our records, the meter has been set and the traffic light energized since Dec. 15," HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg said.
The "normal procedure" is to notify the city when that happens.
However, Rosegg subsequently said, "We should have then notified the city, but mistakenly it did not happen at that time. We take responsibility for the delayed communication. We are taking steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again."
DTS is planning to "flash" the traffic signal Friday, then activate it Monday.
In preparation for that, the contractor that installed the new signal was to change the lane markings this week, while the traffic signal crew is scheduled to begin splicing all the cables and connect them to the Traffic Management Center, said Ty Fukumitsu, DTS’ chief of traffic signals and technology.
Question: The Americans With Disabilities Act guarantees equal opportunities in public accommodations and transportation. Isn’t parking along the King Street Cycle Track a violation of that? Wheelchair-bound citizens parking along the lane are now hampered by lane dividers, leaving the chairs too far from the vehicles. Even if they could exit, they would be forced into a lane used by bicyclists and have to wheel themselves to the nearest driveway to access the sidewalks. Since the chairs are so low, the danger of a vehicle impact would be a concern, especially since there would be parked cars blocking the driver’s view.
Answer: The city Department of Transportation Services says it is working with the state Disability and Communication Access Board, as well as with the nonprofit Hawaii Disability Rights Center, to make sure the city is complying with accessibility guidelines under the Americans With Disabilities Act.
"We have voiced our concerns," said Francine Wai, executive director of the Disability and Communication Access Board.
"We have not heard back," she said. "At the moment it’s a safety issue more than an ADA violation since the parking stalls are not the accessible stalls, but regular stalls."
DTS said it is working to see that reasonable access consistent with ADA guidelines is provided for people with disabilities who want to park along the cycle track.
Auwe
To the driver of a white van, possibly representing a medical treatment company. When I and many children got off the bus on 18th Avenue across the street from Kaimuki Middle School one morning, you were impatient and very rude. We were all at the crosswalk. I held up my hand so that we could cross. You stopped but also raised both arms as if to say, "What?" As we crossed, I called out to you and asked you to show some patience. You gunned the engine, drove by, gave me the finger and swore.
My feelings don’t matter, but the safety of our schoolchildren does. Would you allow similar behavior if your children were in a crosswalk, crossing the street to go to school? — Concerned Educator
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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.
