Question: Regarding the June 12 Kokua Line on what drivers should do when they’re stopped at an intersection and an ambulance approaches from the rear: Quite some time ago the city equipped traffic lights with sensors to allow emergency vehicles to pass. City-owned ambulances were equipped. What happened to that project? Why haven’t other emergency vehicles been so equipped? That would seem to be a far better solution then to suggest that motorists should "inch forward" at red lights to allow emergency vehicles to pass.

Answer: Approximately 280 of 850 signalized intersections on Oahu are equipped with Opticom systems that provide "emergency vehicle pre-emption," said Michael Formby, director of the city Department of Transportation Services.

Emitters are mounted on Emergency Medical Services and Honolulu Fire Department vehicles, while detectors/phase selectors are installed at intersections.

"The emitter on an approaching emergency vehicle will trigger the intersection light to either switch to give priority to the emergency vehicle or extend the green light so the emergency vehicle can get through the intersection on a longer cycle," Formby said.

Because budget is a factor, Opticom sensors are added only to newly signalized city intersections on an "as-appropriate basis," he said. That would be, for example, near a hospital or in the urban core.

It costs roughly $18,000 per intersection to install the sensors, which includes labor and equipment, Formby said.

The Department of Transportation Services maintains the system at both city and state intersections and relies on ambulance and fire crews to report nonfunctioning intersections for repairs, he said.

Question: What is the status of back pay for part-time teachers?

Answer: The last unresolved issue in the class-action lawsuit seeking back pay for part-time teachers recently was resolved, but don’t expect any payments to be going out soon.

The dispute is expected to be subject to appeals on both sides.

The last issue, relating to part-time teachers at charter schools, was resolved June 10, said attorney Paul Alston, whose law firm also represented substitute teachers in their successful fight to receive $14 million in back pay from the state Department of Education.

Notice to approximately 40,000 part-time teachers in the class should be published soon, he said.

The number is much larger than the number of substitute teachers (about 10,000) because it includes kupuna (elders) and others who teach just a couple of hours a week, Alston said. "There are lots and lots and lots of them."

According to Alston, "the state’s expert and ours" came up with figures that total approximately $45 million in possible payments:

» Approximately $24.3 million in wages due to those who worked only as part-time teachers

» Approximately $6.9 million in wages and $3.9 million in interest due to substitute teachers who also worked as part-time teachers

» $10.1 million in interest due on wages previously distributed to substitute teachers Alston said the DOE disputes interest being owed, while, on the plaintiffs’ side, an appeal will be made of the court’s ruling that part-time teachers who were not also substitute teachers do not get interest.

Auwe

» To the person who walks a dog to the corner of Kaliuna and Kukea streets, lets the dog do its business, then just leaves it there. I guess you don’t clean up after yourself, either. There’s a sign that says to pick up your dog’s poop. You must be illiterate. — No Name

» To the person(s) who allowed their animal to defecate on a field at the Waipio Soccer Complex and did not pick up after it. A little girl fell on it during a soccer game. Imagine her embarrassment and horror. For goodness’ sake! It’s not some random field. Children play on it. Leave your animals at home! — Disgusted

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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.