So, here is what I was thinking last October tempered by what I see here in Toulouse.
Any one who drives, even occasionally, in Honolulu complains about the traffic. Potential solutions to the problem will be hotly debated by the candidates in current mayoral election.
Incumbent mayor, Mufi Hannemann, is a strong proponent of a rail system. Mayor Hannemann's opponent, Ann Kobayashi, is a strong poponent of ... Well it isn't exactly clear what Ms. Kobayashi supports, but she doesn't like trains much.
Regardless of the outcome of this election, new large-scale mass transit solutions lie in the (possibly distant) future. Traffic problems are with us right now and will worsen during the time it takes to implement large-scale solutions. So what do we do in the meantime?
In a simplistic sense, the cause of all traffic problems is simple: too many cars for the current roads to handle. So in the same simplistic sense, the solutions are also simple:
1. Build more roads. Probably not a viable solution. Oahu is a small island and there are better uses for land than paving it.
2. Make better use of the existing roads. There are lots of ways to improve circulation on our existing streets.
- Require schools, both public and private, to provide school bus service so that working parents don't need to drop their children off at school on their way to work.
- Realign some famously congested intersections to reduce gridlock, for example, the mauka end of Piikoi where it meets the freeway.
- Change laws to make it illegal to enter an intersection on a yellow light.
- Enforce traffic laws; ticket drivers who run red lights or block intersections.
2. Reduce the number of cars on the roads. To some extent, rising fuel costs are already reducing the number of cars on the road. Other, but extremely unpopular, measures could reinforce this trend.
- Increase tax on gasoline.
- Increase tax on new car sales.
3. Encourage the use of public transit. Honolulu has an excellent bus system. More people might use it if it were improved.
- Reduce fares (subsidized with increased gas taxes)
- Improve bus shelters. Many bus stops have no shelter and are very close to the roadway, making waiting for the bus hot (or wet), unpleasant and risky.
- Encourage employers to issue bus passes to employees.
- Encourage the University of Hawaii to issue bus passes.
- Improve bus schedules to reduce waiting times
- Make bike lanes
- Offer convenient, inexpensive bike rental stations
How will life be in Honolulu in ten years if we do nothing now? Mayor Hannemann's proposed rail system is work examining, but it is not a great plan. It neglects at least three places were people need to go: Waikiki, the airport, and UH Manoa. The process that led to the currently proposed alignment lacked transparency. The plan is also very expensive.
If we do nothing to improve traffic in Honolulu the mayoral election and debate will be just more low sparks of well-heeled boys.
