State still evaluating its test of Piikoi onramp closure

Question: Whatever happened to the great idea that the Department of Transportation had about closing the H-1 freeway onramp at Piikoi Street Koko Head-bound before Punahou Exit during afternoon traffic (3 to 6 p.m.)? It sure made a positive difference to traffic flow Koko Head-bound during the test period. Hope they implement it soon.

Q: Is the state considering closing the eastbound Piikoi Street onramp to the H-1? Congestion eastbound has gotten very bad since schools are back in session.

Answer: You and numerous other readers have asked about this since a demonstration project that ran from April 17-29 eased eastbound freeway traffic at a chronically congested merge point. No decision has been made yet, but should be by the end of the year.

The state DOT is consolidating the comments it received during the trial closure and is analyzing the projected effects of a permanent closure and various other options on adjacent surface streets, nearby freeway entrances and city facilities.

“HDOT is in coordination with the City and County of Honolulu on the impacts the various options may have on their facilities. The proposed options will be announced to the public later this year,” said Shelly Kunishige, a DOT spokeswoman.

During April’s closure, the DOT monitored area traffic on the H-1 freeway eastbound and on surrounding surface streets.

Kokua Line received numerous comments during the traffic experiment. Many readers hailed the closure for relieving freeway traffic at a particularly congested spot. Vehicles entering the H-1 eastbound at Piikoi Street must merge left across two lanes of traffic, just as vehicles planning to exit at the Punahou Street offramp ahead are merging right.

But we also heard from readers who said closing the Piikoi onramp worsened traffic on already crowded surface streets as commuters jockeyed to access the H-1 at Ward or University avenues, the two eastbound onramps before and after Piikoi, respectively.

Q: Do they still sell the monthly bus passes? There’s signs all over the place for this new 1-Day Pass, but it’s too expensive for me. I need the transfers.

A: Yes. TheBus offers numerous fare options, including single-ride cash, daily cash (the new 1-Day Pass), and monthly and annual passes.

The general adult price for a monthly pass is $60. You can buy monthly passes at numerous outlets on Oahu, including the Kalihi Transit Center, Foodland Stores, 7-Eleven Stores, Times Supermarkets, Satellite City Halls, the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Campus Center, and the Hawaii Pacific University Bookstore, according to TheBus website.

Paper transfers have been eliminated; the final ones were issued Saturday. They had allowed passengers to continue their ride by connecting to another bus traveling in the same direction.

Regular passengers who previously paid the single-ride fare with free transfers should consider buying a monthly pass. Adults riding the bus for 30 days would pay $150 at the daily rate ($5 per 1-Day Pass), versus $60 at the monthly rate.

The annual pass is even more economical over the course of the year, but requires an outlay of $660 for the general adult rate.

Mahalo

Yes, there are angels in this world! On Sept. 8, as I was staggering back to my table with my cane (I have Parkinson’s) after having used the restroom at Zippy’s, an angel appeared and kindly assisted me back to my table! Later, when I went to pay for my lunch (my husband’s and mine), I was told that it had already been paid! Words are inadequate to express my deepest appreciation for their most sincere kindness. Thank you very much. — Very sincerely, L.T.

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.