Meeting Summary of the

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization

 

CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 3:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Conference Room 301, Honolulu Hale
530 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

Members Present:                                                                        

NB #34 Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale

Michael Golojuch, Vice Chair

AARP

Jackie Boland

American Planning Association Hawaii

John Valera

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 Bicycling League

Janice Marsters

Hawaii Centers for Independent Living

Charlene Ota

Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996

Michael Costa

Hui Kupuna VIP

Louise Horio

Institute of Transportation Engineers

Steven Yoshida

Land Use Research Foundation

Shannon Alivado

League of Women Voters

Marcia Linville

Leeward Oahu Transportation Management Association

Debbie Luning

NB #02 Kuliouou-Kalani Iki

Linda Starr

NB #07 Manoa

Tom Heinrich

NB #10 Makiki-Lower Punchbowl-Tantalus

Charles Carole

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 #29 Kahaluu

Elwin Spray

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

 

Members Absent (Reps):

American Society of Civil Engineers

Tiffany Hamada

Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii

Dean Minakami

Honolulu Community Action Program

Karl Espaldon

Mestizo Association

Arvid Youngquist

NB #01 Hawaii Kai

Greg Knudsen

NB #03 Waialae-Kahala

Lester Fukuda

NB #05 Diamond Head-Kapahulu-Saint Louis Heights

Bert Narita

NB #08 McCully-Moiliili

Ron Lockwood

NB #09 Waikiki

Robert Finley

NB #12 Nuuanu-Punchbowl

James Marn

NB #13 Downtown

Tom Smyth

NB #25 Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu

David Aki

NB #26 Wahiawa-Whitmore Village

Joseph Francher

NB #30 Kaneohe

Glenn Ida

Waikiki Residents Association

Daisy Murai

 

 

Guests Present:

Christine Absher

Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride

Robert Miyasaki

Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT)

James Burke

Department of Transportation Services (DTS) - Public Transit Division

Craig Chung

DTS - Traffic Engineering Division (DTS-TE)

Ty Fukumitsu

DTS - TE

Chris Sayers

DTS - TE

Mark Au

DTS - Transportation Planning Division (DTS-TPD)

Nick Poulos

DTS - TPD

Robert Whitaker

NB #7 Manoa

David Hilea, Jr.

NB #11 Ala Moana

Brandon Lau

NB #14 Liliha

Bob R. Smith   

NB #24 Waianae Coast

Dick Regals

Stanford Carr Development

                                               

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

 

Chair Pro Tem Joe Magaldi called the meeting to order at 3:37 p.m.  

 

1.  New Business

“Draft FFYs 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program”

[Handouts: Project List for the Draft FFYs 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program and Responses to the OahuMPO CAC TIP Recommendations]

 

Chair Pro Tem Magaldi introduced Lori Arakaki, OahuMPO Acting Executive Director, to provide information on the draft FFYs 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  Ms. Arakaki explained that the draft FFYs 2011-2014 TIP covers a four-year period with two additional years (2015 and 2016) for information only.  The draft TIP includes public transit, highway, bicycle, and pedestrian projects that will receive federal transportation funds within the next four years.  The draft TIP must be financially constrained and the projects must be ready-to-go within the year in which it is programmed.

 

Ms. Arakaki explained that the handout, Responses to the OahuMPO CAC TIP Recommendations, contains recommendations made by the CAC for the draft TIP and the agencies’ responses to those recommendations.  She explained that the project maps, project information sheets, and financial information can be found on the OahuMPO Web site at http://www.oahumpo.org/.  The public review and comment period for this draft TIP runs through June 23, 2010.  Comments may be submitted to the OahuMPO via mail, email, or fax.  Testimony will also be accepted at the meeting of the Policy Committee at which the draft TIP is considered.  That meeting will be held in late June or early July 2010.                   

 

Discussion Highlights:

[Unless noted otherwise, questions were answered by Ms. Arakaki.]

·        In response to a question by Loreen Godfrey: The projects are numbered alphabetically by project name.  In the project numbers, the first letter, “O” means that the project is on Oahu.  The second letter, either “S” or “C”, indicates whether it is a state or city project.  

·        In response to a question by Charles Carole: Mark Au explained that the DTS was unable to provide a response to the CAC’s recommendation for the Piikoi and Pensacola Streets, Traffic Direction Reversal due to the late notification of responsibility for that recommendation.  A study that was done by DTS to look at this project will continue to be reviewed and considered.

·        In response to a question by Gil Riviere: Rob Miyasaki explained that the Kamehameha Highway Realignment, Vicinity of Kawailoa Beach project is regionally significant and is now using federal funding; therefore, it must be in the TIP in order to proceed. 

·        In response to a question by Linda Starr: Mr. Miyasaki explained that the Interstate Route
H-1, Eastbound Improvements, Ward Avenue On-ramp to University Interchange project includes the priority area; the effect these improvements may have as far west as the Vineyard on-ramp will be evaluated.

Vice Chair Michael Golojuch arrived and assumed the Chair’s position.

·        In response to a question by Coby Lynn: The North-South Road, Kapolei Parkway to the Vicinity of H-1 Freeway, Phase II project will widen the existing road.

·        In response to a question by Jackie Boland: The project descriptions that are part of the information sheets may be found on the OahuMPO Web site.  These descriptions will indicate pedestrian components to each project.  Mr. Miyasaki explained that the Pedestrian Master Plan will help the HDOT to prioritize the areas of greatest need for pedestrian improvements.

·        In response to a question by Marcia Linville: The Pedestrian Master Plan is an HDOT project and the planning process is underway.  Mr. Miyasaki believes that the advisory committee for the Pedestrian Master Plan has been identified.

·        In response to a question by Blaine Tsugawa: Mr. Au explained that the Department of Design and Construction is tasked with providing sidewalks in unimproved areas. 

·        In response to a question by Tom Dinell: Mr. Miyasaki stated that the Interstate Route
H-1, Eastbound Improvements, Ward Avenue on-ramp to University Interchange project will include the University on-ramp.  The project is currently in the planning stage; the entire corridor will be looked at to determine what improvements are required.  Mr. Dinell suggested some indication of pedestrian improvement components in the project listing summary that is provided to the CAC.

·        In response to a question by Charlene Ota: Ty Fukumitsu explained that DTS is conducting a study to prioritize the use of audible pedestrian signals on Oahu.  The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) provides strict guidelines as to the use of the audible signals. 

·        In response to a question by Ms. Starr: Mr. Miyasaki said the Vineyard Boulevard Improvements, Vicinity of Queen’s Medical Center project will modify the right turn from Lusitana Street to the H-1 on-ramp.

·        In response to a question by Ms. Linville: Mr. Fukumitsu explained that the MUTCD does not allow the use of countdown timers for vehicle traffic signals.

 

2.  Approval of the February 17, March 17, and April 21, 2010 Meeting Minutes

  • February 17, 2010 minutes: Hearing no corrections, the minutes were accepted as circulated.
  • March 17, 2010 minutes: Hearing no corrections, the minutes were accepted as circulated.
  • April 21, 2010 minutes: Vice Chair Golojuch announced that the draft minutes had been corrected to reflect the presence of Ewa Neighborhood Board’s representative, Mr. Lynn, at the meeting.  There were no further corrections to the minutes.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Magaldi and seconded by Twila Lai to approve the minutes as corrected.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

3.  Other Business

There was no other business.

 

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

Marian Yasuda announced the following:

  • The Policy Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. in the State Capitol conference room 309.  At that meeting, it is anticipated that they will:

o       Act on the draft FY 2011 Overall Work Program,

o       Consider an amendment to the Bylaws of the CAC,

o       Consider the CAC membership application from Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board #11, and

o       Hear a presentation on the draft FFYs 2011-2014 TIP

·        The Technical Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 27 at 2:30 p.m. in the Department of Transportation 5th floor conference room.  At that meeting, it is anticipated that they will:

o       Make a recommendation to the Policy Committee on the draft FY 2011 Overall Work Program

 

5.  Announcements

There were no announcements.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.