Meeting Summary of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

 

CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 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

American Planning Association Hawaii

John Valera

Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii

Ray Kunishige

Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride

Ronald Pike

Committee for Balanced Transportation

Joseph Magaldi

E Noa Corporation

Tom Dinell

Eye of the Pacific

Twila Lai

Hawaii Centers for Independent Living

Charlene Ota

Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996

Michael Costa

Honolulu Community Action Program

Kristina Copeland

Hui Kupuna VIP

Rose Pou

Institute of Transportation Engineers

I. Robert Nehmad

Leeward Oahu Transportation Management Association

Debbie Luning

Mestizo Association

Arvid Youngquist

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 #10 Makiki-Lower Punchbowl-Tantalus

Charles Carole

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 #25 Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu

Dick Poirier

NB #26 Wahiawa-Whitmore Village

Joseph Francher

NB #30 Kaneohe

Glenn Ida

NB #35 Mililani Mauka-Launani Valley

Pamela Young

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

Randall Hiu

Waikiki Residents Association

Daisy Murai

 

 

Members Absent (Reps):

AARP

Mary Protheroe

American Society of Civil Engineers

Tiffany Hamada

Hawaii Bicycling League

Janice Marsters

League of Women Voters

Piilani Kaopuiki

NB #01 Hawaii Kai

Greg Knudsen

NB #03 Waialae-Kahala

Lester Fukuda

NB #09 Waikiki

Robert Finley

NB #12 Nuuanu-Punchbowl

James Marn

NB #20 Aiea

Carl Jacobs

NB #23 Ewa

Coby M. Lynn

NB #29 Kahaluu

Ken LeVasseur

NB #34 Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale

Michael Golojuch, Vice Chair

North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Gil Riviere

Pacific Resource Partnership

Josh Magno

 

 

Guests Present:

Kevin Killeen

Citizen

Christine Absher

Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride

Kirk Caldwell

City and County of Honolulu

Ginny Bisho

Department of Transportation Services

Nicholas Poulos

DTS

Scott Ishikawa

DTS

Pat Lee

DTS

Janet Inamine

McCully resident

Robert Whitaker

NB #7 Manoa

David Hilea, Jr.

NB #11 Ala Moana

Brandon Lau

NB #14 Liliha

Dale White

NB #14 Liliha

Jane Sugimura

NB #20 Aiea

Bob R. Smith   

NB #24 Waianae Coast

                                               

OahuMPO Staff Present:  Lori Arakaki, Randolph Sykes, and Marian Yasuda

 

Chair David Arakawa called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.  With no objections, an agenda item was taken out of order.

 

1.  New Business

1.A. “Draft FY 2011 Overall Work Program (OWP)”

Chair Arakawa introduced Randolph Sykes, OahuMPO, project manager for the FY 2011 Overall Work Program.  Mr. Sykes gave a brief summary of the draft FY 2011 OWP, highlighting those proposed studies that were recommended by the CAC.  He explained that the emphasis for FY 2011 is the completion of existing studies.  The CAC’s recommendation for a transportation management study in Central Oahu may be partially addressed in the Village Park / Kupuna Loop Sub-area Corridor Study proposed by the Department of Transportation Services (DTS).  Comments may be submitted to the OahuMPO no later than April 30, 2010 via mail, email, or fax. 

 

 

 

1.B. “Honolulu Rail Transit Project Update”

Chair Arakawa introduced Kirk Caldwell, Managing Director, City and County of Honolulu.

 

Mr. Caldwell spoke about Honolulu’s previous attempts to implement mass transit.  He stated that growth on the Ewa plain has created a greater need for transit, providing an alternative mode for commuting to downtown Honolulu and beyond.  He also emphasized the need to integrate bicycles into the transit system.

 

Mr. Caldwell explained how the Honolulu Rail Transit Project will stimulate the economy, create jobs, and help the State climb out of the recession.  The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently provided budgeted $55 million for the next planning stage of the project, which is a demonstration of their faith in the project.  Three Two auditing firms have reviewed the financial plan for the Rail Project at the request of the FTA and have determined that the plan is sound. 

 

Mr. Caldwell emphasized that the purpose of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is to identify and address impacts of the proposed project on other agencies’ interests, the environment, stakeholders, and the public.  The EIS does not consider any technologies or alignments other than that which was identified as the preferred alternative by the City Council.  The financial plan of the Rail Project has no relevance to the acceptance or rejections of the Draft Final EIS. 

 

Mr. Caldwell addressed the concerns of the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the alignment of the Rail Project near the airport.  The parties involved with these concerns are currently in discussion and will continue until there is resolution. 

 

Discussion Highlights:

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

·        In response to a question by Arvid Youngquist: Statistics regarding accidents involving sealed transit systems on a fixed rail, such as Bay Area Rapid Transit, can be researched and considered for inclusion into future presentations.

·        In response to a question by Linda Starr: Twenty Ten thousand jobs will be created by building the system; 4,000 of those will be direct construction jobs.  Transit-Oriented Development will boost economic opportunities around the stations.  It is estimated that $20 billion worth of work will be created by this project by construction around the stations.

·        In response to a question by Twila Lai: The Rail Project planning and design is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act Guidelines.  Scott Ishikawa, DTS Rapid Transit Division, stated that he continually works with seniors and persons with disabilities to ensure that all their accessibility needs are addressed.  Some specific features will be elevator and escalator access from both sides of the road, audible announcements for train arrivals and departures, 1½ inches gaps between the station platform and the train, sensors to stop doors from closing if boarding has not completed, and tactile features at the boarding areas.

·        In response to a question by Joe Magaldi: Sound generated by the Rail System should be no louder than current levels heard on the busy streets of Honolulu a passing City bus.

·        In response to a question by Daisy Murai: Mr. Ishikawa responded that the financial plan does rail system will include the 40-acre maintenance facility, a control center facility, the fixed guideway, the planning and construction of the 21 transit stations, as well as 75 train cars.  The system will be automated (driverless), which means lower operating costs.

 

1.C. “Draft Amendment to the Bylaws of the CAC”

Chair Arakawa introduced Tom Smyth, Bylaws Subcommittee Chair.

 

Mr. Smyth provided an overview of the recommended amendment to the Bylaws of the CAC.  The significant proposed amendments change the operational period for the CAC from the State fiscal year to the calendar year.  Following a legal opinion received from the Attorney General’s office, the quorum for the CAC has been proposed to change to 30 percent of the total membership. 

 

A motion was made by Mr. Youngquist and seconded by Ms. Lai to approve the Bylaws amendment and transmit it to the Policy Committee for approval.

 

Discussion Highlights:

·        In response to a question by Kristina Copeland: Mr. Smyth explained that an item can be added to the agenda by two-thirds of the members present.  The section stating, “Before a CAC vote can be taken during a regular or special meeting, the subject matter shall be first identified on the agenda in sufficient detail” has been deleted. 

·        Dick Poirier had three suggestions to offer:

1.      This approval by the CAC was not necessary;

2.      If the Bylaws are going to identify the quorum, it should be zero; and

3.      The letter received by the OahuMPO is not a formal legal opinion.  The Policy Committee should be informed that there are problems with this letter; and a suggestion should be given that they request a formal opinion from the Attorney General.

 

Chair Arakawa suggested a friendly amendment to the motion to include in the transmission to the Policy Committee the Attorney General’s letter and a letter written by Mr. Poirier informing the Policy Committee of concerns by some CAC members.

 

Mr. Youngquist and Ms. Lai agreed to the friendly amendment.   

 

Chair Arakawa restated the motion: “Approve the Bylaws amendment to go forward to the Policy Committee, attaching the Attorney General’s letter and a letter from one of the CAC members stating concerns and questions.” 

 

The motion was unanimously approved.

 

2.  Approval of the February 17, 2010 Meeting Minutes

Hearing no objections, the approval of the minutes was deferred until the April meeting due to time constraints.

 

3.  Other Business

There was no other business.

 

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

Hearing no objections, this agenda item was deferred until the April meeting due to time constraints.

 

4.  Announcements

There were no announcements.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.