Question: I read with great interest about the New Year’s Day hike up to Makapuu, which I would have loved to do. However, because there is no bus stop at the Makapuu trail entrance, it was out of the question. If you take the bus for East Honolulu, you either have to get off quite a ways before the trail entrance and put your life at risk by walking on the side of busy Kalanianaole Highway, or you have to take the bus all the way to Sea Life Park and then walk back up the highway to the trail entrance. … Either way is very dangerous. … Please look into this for those of us who don’t drive. … Could the city add a bus stop near the trail entrance? How does one go about requesting a bus stop?
Answer: Your query includes several questions, so we’ll answer them in detail below, thanks to information from Michael Formby, director of the city’s Department of Transportation Services. To summarize: Adding a bus stop at the Makapuu trail is a nonstarter for now. One at the Makapuu Lookout is more likely, although even that presents challenges. See the Google Maps image at 808ne.ws/1OdG1EI for context; the lookout and trail are about one-third of a mile apart.
Q: How can residents request new bus stops?
A: Bus stop requests may be submitted to the Department of Transportation Services’ Public Transit Division. Call 768-8371, email thebusstop@honolulu.gov or write to 650 S. King St., 3rd Floor, Honolulu 96813. Residents may also contact their City Council representatives.
The division follows a standard process for adding or removing bus stops, Formby said. Numerous factors are considered, including safety, traffic, ridership, requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act, approvals needed by other agencies, operational issues, the interests of the property owner (in this case the state), liability issues and other concerns.
Q: Is the city interested in a bus stop for the Makapuu trail?
A: Yes, but it won’t happen anytime soon. As Formby explained in an email: “There are many unresolved issues and challenges with establishing a bus stop at or near Makapuu Lighthouse Road (‘the trail’). Kalanianaole Highway is a state roadway under the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Department of Transportation and Makapuu Lighthouse Road is under the Department of Land and Natural Resources. DTS has spoken with both entities and there are … significant concerns. Makapuu Lighthouse Road is crowded with privately owned vehicles and does not have a bus turnaround point. … Tour and city buses are precluded from entering Makapuu Lighthouse Road. Using Kalanianaole Highway in the vicinity of Makapuu Lighthouse Road presents obstacles as well, including safety challenges and ADA accessibility. While there is a shoulder near the widened entrance to Makapuu Lighthouse Road, there is a bike lane near the entrance while cars merge into the right-turn lane, both of which present traffic/safety issues. In addition, the highway has an uphill grade while the shoulder slopes makai and is not improved for ADA accessibility. … Given the distance from Kalanianaole Highway to the trailhead, fulfilling ADA accessibility requirements on inclined and sloped HDOT and DLNR property would involve considerable planning, significant funding and long-term implementation.”
Q: Is the city interested in a bus stop at the Makapuu Lookout?
A: Yes, and “this appears more achievable in the short term,” Formby said. He emphasized that such a stop would be for the lookout, not the trail, because there is no direct pedestrian pathway from the lookout parking lot to the trail. “The Makapuu Lookout and parking lot is under the jurisdiction of DLNR. HDOT is concerned about a bus stop on Kalanianaole Highway near the Makapuu Lookout for the same reasons it is concerned about a bus stop on Kalanianaole Highway near Makapuu Lighthouse Road. Further, the bend in the highway raises additional safety concerns for motorists. What is more feasible is using the DLNR parking lot at the Makapuu Lookout for visitors wanting to access the lookout. DTS, DLNR and HDOT have concerns with any Makapuu bus stop that would in any way encourage transit riders to walk from the lookout along Kalanianaole Highway to the Makapuu trail. Bus routes 22 and 23 both currently turn around at Sea Life Park. If DTS is able to come to an agreement with DLNR and resolve any safety, liability and ADA concerns and issues, potentially both of these buses could stop in the Makapuu Lookout parking lot on the way to Sea Life Park. However, any such bus stop would not be considered a bus stop for the Makapuu trail. This issue will be presented to the bus Service Review Committee for further discussion before pursuing with DLNR.”
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.
