Meeting Summary of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 3:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Conference Room 301, Honolulu Hale
530 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

Members Present:

Land Use Research Foundation	David Arakawa, Chair
NB #34 Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale	Michael Golojuch, Vice Chair
American Planning Association Hawaii	John Valera
American Society of Civil Engineers	Tiffany Hamada
Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride	Ronald Pike
Committee for Balanced Transportation	Joseph Magaldi
Eye of the Pacific	Sam Fisk
Hawaii Centers for Independent Living	Charlene Ota
Hui Kupuna VIP	Julia Belesario
Institute of Transportation Engineers	Honglong Li
Leeward Oahu Transportation Management Association	Debbie Luning
Mestizo Association	Arvid Youngquist
NB #01 Hawaii Kai	Greg Knudsen
NB #02 Kuliouou-Kalani Iki	Linda Starr
NB #05 Diamond Head-Kapahulu-Saint Louis Heights	Bert Narita
NB #07 Manoa	Tom Heinrich
NB #08 McCully-Moiliili	Ron Lockwood
NB #09 Waikiki	Robert Finley
NB #10 Makiki-Lower Punchbowl-Tantalus	Charles Carole
NB #12 Nuuanu-Punchbowl	James Marn
NB #13 Downtown	Tom Smyth
NB #18 Aliamanu-Salt Lake-Foster Village	Lorene Godfrey
NB #21 Pearl City	Cruz J. Vina, Jr.
NB #22 Waipahu	Blaine Tsugawa
NB #23 Ewa	Coby M. Lynn
NB #26 Wahiawa-Whitmore Village	Joseph Francher
NB #30 Kaneohe	Glenn Ida
NB #35 Mililani Mauka-Launani Valley	Pamela Young
North Shore Chamber of Commerce	Gil Riviere
Pacific Resource Partnership	Josh Magno
Tax Foundation of Hawaii	Randall Hiu
Waikiki Residents Association	Daisy Murai

Members Absent (Reps):

AARP	Mary Protheroe
Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii	Dean Minakami
E Noa Corporation	Tom Dinell
Hawaii Bicycling League	Janice Marsters
Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996	Michael Costa
Honolulu Community Action Program	Karl Espaldon
League of Women Voters	Piilani Kaopuiki
NB #03 Waialae-Kahala	Lester Fukuda
NB #20 Aiea	Carl Jacobs
NB #25 Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu	David Aki
NB #29 Kahaluu	Ken LeVasseur

Guests Present:

Christine Absher	Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride
Nicholas Poulos	Department of Transportation Services
Ed Sniffen	Hawaii Department of Transportation
Curtis Lum	Honolulu Advertiser
John Kim	NB #7 Manoa
Robert Whitaker	NB #7 Manoa
David Hilea, Jr.	NB #11 Ala Moana
Bob R. Smith	NB #24 Waianae Coast

OahuMPO Staff Present: Gordon Lum, Randolph Sykes, and Marian Yasuda

Chair David Arakawa called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.

1. New Business

“Interstate Route H-1 PM Contraflow Lane and Eastbound Widening at Middle Street Projects”

Chair Arakawa introduced Ed Sniffen, Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), Design Branch, Technical Design Services Office. Mr. Sniffen provided information about these two major congestion relief projects.

According to the 2009 Urban Mobility Report by the Texas Transportation Institute, the cost of congestion to residents on Oahu has doubled since 1982, increasing 10 percent annually. Using 2007 numbers, approximately 20 gallons of gasoline and 30 hours of time annually per person are wasted due to congestion. It is estimated that this project will yield a 1:1 to 2:1 benefit-to-cost ratio over a

20-year life.

The Interstate Route H-1 PM Contraflow Lane project will increase the westbound PM peak capacity on the H-1 Freeway between the Radford Drive Overpass to the Waiawa Interchange. It will also include the repair of the Pearl City and Waimalu Viaducts. The contract will be a design-build and will likely be awarded in June of 2010 with completion in early 2012.

The Middle Street Widening project may provide an additional lane between the Kalihi Interchange and the Vineyard Boulevard Off-ramp. This area experiences delays of 20 to 45 minutes during peak travel time. This project will require the adjustment of six major structures, consisting of bridges and overpasses. It is likely that drivers will experience a travel time savings of 10 to 20 minutes with the completion of this project, which is anticipated in 2014.

Discussion Highlights:

[Unless noted otherwise, questions were answered by Mr. Sniffen.]

· In response to a question by Tom Smyth: The project bids are expected to be lower than the estimates that were calculated in September of 2008, because of the current economic conditions. In the bidding process, cost estimates for the project will account for 40 percent of the score in evaluating each bid.

· In response to a question by Joe Francher: HDOT is working closely with the City Department of Transportation Services to increase the capacity of arterial roads. The agencies are pursuing an agreement to ensure that the interests of each do not conflict and compete.

· In response to a question by James Marn: The Middle Street Widening project will not include the westbound side of the H-1 Freeway.

· In response to a question by Blaine Tsugawa: HDOT is happy to offer presentations to the neighborhood boards on these projects. Inquiries may be made by calling Mr. Sniffen at 692-7544.

· In response to a question by Cruz Vina: The widening at Middle Street may result in taking part of the Farrington High School campus.

2. Approval of the October 21, 2009 Meeting Minutes

Hearing no corrections to the October 21, 2009 minutes, the minutes were unanimously accepted.

3. OahuMPO Meeting Highlights - Policy Committee & Technical Advisory Committee

Marian Yasuda announced that no meetings of either the Policy Committee or the Technical Advisory Committee were held since the last CAC meeting on October 21, 2009. There are no future meetings scheduled at this time.

4. Announcements

Chair Arakawa announced that the next meeting of the CAC will be on Wednesday, December 16, at 3:30 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room.

Chair Arakawa announced that the election of officers for the CAC will occur at the January 20 meeting of the CAC. Nominations of candidates for Chair and Vice Chair will be accepted at both the December and January meetings of the CAC. Prior to nominating a candidate, the willingness of the individual to serve should be confirmed.

Greg Knudsen announced that a public meeting regarding the upcoming Kalanianaole Highway Retaining Wall Project near Makapuu will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at the Hawaii Army National Guard Training Auditorium at Bellows Air Force Station, starting at 7:00 p.m. Representatives from HDOT will provide an overview of the project, scheduled to begin in December 2009, and welcome input from the public.

Charlene Ota announced that the new Executive Director for the Hawaii Centers for Independent Living is Gordon Fuller.

Tom Heinrich announced that the opening of the State Legislature is on January 20, 2010.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:23 p.m.