Question: When will the striping on the H-1 freeway between Kahala and First Avenue be clearly marked? Especially during the evening time, it is difficult to distinguish the lines for each lane as you’re driving. I believe an accident will occur because of this.

Answer: The state Department of Transportation is still grappling with how to cover the distracting markings left by its "Dowel Retrofit Pavement Preservation Project" that began in 2011 along the oldest stretch of the H-1 freeway. Initially, the DOT said it did not plan to remove or cover the areas where steel rods were inserted into the roadway to reinforce the freeway’s pavement joint, expecting the thousands of rectangular markings to fade over time. But that hasn’t happened.

In November, DOT spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter told Kokua Line that engineers would test several stains to see if any would cover the markings. Another option was to re-stripe the lanes to make them more visible.

The DOT had hoped to find and implement a solution by early this year, but the tints that were tested "did not work as well as the DOT had hoped," Sluyter said this week.

"Currently our engineers are researching and testing other options," she said. Remarking the lane lines is still a possibility, but nothing has been decided yet.

"It depends on which method is more effective with the resources available," Sluyter said. "We hope to have some improvement in the next several months."

See is.gd/k7gKpE.

Question: Are cars legally able to park on Punahou Street, just after Punahou School and before Lanihuli Drive? There are signs posted prohibiting parking in the early morning and in the afternoon. A sheriff directing traffic into Punahou School said the entire area was a no-parking/tow-away zone and that cars would be cited. That seems to conflict with the signs. Which is correct?

Answer: Apparently there was a misunderstanding.

Cars are allowed to park in the section you cite outside the restricted hours.

The off-duty deputy sheriff directing traffic is responsible for getting cars onto the Punahou campus and to keep the flow going, said Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Safety, which includes the Sheriff Division.

"It gets pretty busy, so he will do his best to answer questions quickly," she said.

"Our deputies direct traffic in front of the school up until 8:30 a.m., so the deputy was referring to the rules as they apply to that area at that present time."

Schwartz noted that Punahou Street heading mauka ends at Nehoa Street, then becomes Manoa Road.

The first deputy sheriff who looked into the situation reported that no parking is allowed on Punahou Street, with "No Parking — Tow Away Zone" signs clearly posted.

Parking also is not allowed on Manoa Road, from Nehoa Street to the last entrance into the Punahou campus, with signs clearly posted saying, "No Parking — Tow Away Zone." 

Just past that entrance, beginning with the first home, signs are posted prohibiting parking from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Deputy sheriffs can cite and have a vehicle towed, but they are hired by Punahou School for a specific function, Schwartz said. 

Traffic matters outside of the school would be referred to the Hono•lulu Police Department.

Mahalo

To two kind men who offered to help after I had a flat tire on Kalanianaole Highway while driving my husband to see the doctor. While I waited for roadside assistance, Shane and Lynn of Tree•scape Hawaii left their work, took the spare to be inflated, then changed the tire. — Cherie D.

Mahalo

To the young man in a silver truck for his quick thinking on a Thursday afternoon back in June by the Sixth Avenue merge on the H-1 freeway. I am so sorry I didn’t realize that our lanes merged and thank you for avoiding an accident. Please accept my apology. — Woman in the Silver Camry

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.