Zipper Lane will accommodate more drivers for school commute

Beginning Monday, more morning commuters will be able to use the H-1 freeway’s eastbound Zipper Lane, the state announced.

Vehicles with two or more occupants will be allowed to use the Zipper Lane for its full operating period from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m., the state Department of Transportation said Thursday.

Currently, vehicles must have at least three people to use the Zipper Lane from 5:30 to 8 a.m. After 8 a.m. the rules ease up, and vehicles with two people are allowed to use the lane.

The change coincides with the Department of Transportation’s annual "Beat the School Jam" campaign. The change will take effect a week before 57,000 university and private school students return to classes.

The Zipper Lane is an additional eastbound lane on the freeway, from Waikele to Kalihi. A specialized vehicle moves linked concrete barriers into place on the westbound lanes to create a morning contra-flow lane on weekdays.

About 2,500 vehicles use the Zipper Lane each day, Department of Transportation spokes­woman Caro­line Sluyter said.

The state said it is allowing cars with fewer people to travel in the Zipper Lane because usage has been low. "It just wasn’t really getting the ridership with three (occupants)," Sluyter said.

Lowering the required minimum number of occupants will allow more vehicles to use the Zipper Lane and the Nim­itz contra-flow lane, easing congestion in the other lanes, the state said.

With the upcoming change, Sluyter said, the state anticipates that the number of vehicles using the Zipper Lane will surge to 4,000 per day.

Beginning Aug. 19, some city bus routes will be modified to accommodate University of Hawaii students. Route changes include:

» Route 13, which now runs from King Street to Kalakaua Avenue and ends at Campbell Avenue, will run from Kapiolani Boulevard through McCully Avenue and enter Waikiki. The route also will be extended to all of Kapa­hulu Avenue to the University of Hawaii.

» Route 2, which now runs through Waikiki and circles Kapiolani Park, will extend to Kapa­hulu Avenue, Campbell Avenue and continue on to Kapiolani Community College.

Roger Morton, president and general manager of TheBus, said the changes are in response to a short-range transit plan, growing use of the city bus system and requests made by UH students, many of whom either work or live in the Waikiki area.