ATI The Alliance for Traffic Improvement

Seeking cost effective ways to reduce traffic congestion on Oahu

Notes on BRT — Bainum Rapid Transit.

He stated that after studying numerous options, the BRT system is best to help alleviate traffic congestion and is affordable. Bainum. http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/nco/nb3/02/3aprmin.htm

Bainum was still pushing BRT after he left office and after all the Environmental Impact Statements were approved and the BRT has not changed since then even though he is claiming it has. Ask him what has changed.

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Nov/03/ln/ln01a.html

Read these Neighborhood Board Minutes below to recognize how Bainum rode roughshod over all objections to the BRT

Resolution 280 Follow-up (test of BRT dedicated bus lanes along Kapiolani Boulevard) _ Councilmember Bainum _ Councilmember Bainum stated he sent a letter to the Board indicating why the Resolution 280 would not be viable.

Concerns and comments followed: 1) Councilmember Bainum stated the BRT is a two-part system. 2) Jennings said she's mainly concerned about testing Kapiolani Boulevard. Councilmember Bainum answered you would have to test the whole system. 3) Councilmember Bainum stated the BRT will not improve automobile traffic and in some places it will get worse. 4) Chung said why don't you block off the whole system and see the “madness” it will create. Councilmember Bainum answered the test includes more than buses. It would have to include the changing of traffic lights, things that can't be replicated. 5) A resident said the BRT concept works in Portland, Oregon, a city of six million people. Councilmember Bainum stated that's why you have engineers and projection models. This system has been working in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil for the past 30 years. The bottom line is that the BRT will change the face of Hawai'i. 6) Hurst said on today's starbulletin.com, the report (erroneously) indicated that the Ala Moana/Kakaako Neighborhood Board supported the BRT. 7) Councilmember Bainum said we need the BRT. What is the alternative? 8) Morris said the BRT will take lanes away from traffic and will not result in a net gain. It will impact vehicle traffic, but will improve the bus system. Councilmember Bainum stated this is a way to solve our transportation problem. Currently, traffic on Ala Moana Boulevard and Atkinson Drive is at a standstill. The federal government is not looking at a rail system. Honolulu is perfect for this kind of system (BRT). 9) Jennings said the intent of the BRT is to take the center lanes of Kapiolani Boulevard and restrict it to the BRT. At all the community meetings that she attended the majority of resident were opposed to implementing the BRT on Kapiolani Boulevard. Councilmember Mirikitani introduced Resolution 280 to cone-off two lanes of traffic on Kapiolani Boulevard for a test. Councilmember Bainum stated coning off the road wouldn't solve the problem. The routes are set in stone. He asked that discussion be continued. 10) Jenelle Frewen, Councilmember Mirikitani's office, asked if there has been any study indicating that the traffic will get worse from the BRT? It's not going to get better. The purpose of the test is to see if traffic will get worse. She asked if there is a statistical model?
http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/nco/nb11/01/11febmin.htm

Council Transportation Committee Chairman Duke Bainum said that he is excited about the BRT project because it is an affordable and realistic alternative to driving. “BRT will give people who don’t want to fight Honolulu’s increasing traffic congestion a fast, convenient way to get around,” Bainum said. “Best of all, we won’t need to impose any new taxes.” http://www.oahutrans2k.com/trans2k/progress5.pdf

Testimony

T.K. Hannemann (Teamsters Local 996) (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Hannemann testified in opposition of the BRT system.

Lawson Teshima (Polynesian Hospitality) (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Teshima testified in opposition of the BRT system. He stated that, due to the slowdown in travel, the BRT funds should instead be used to help the visitor industry.

Dale Evans, Charley's Taxi (CAC) (written testimony submitted) - Ms. Evans testified in opposition of the in-town portion of the BRT system.

Cliff Slater, COST (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Slater testified in opposition of the BRT system.

Reg White (Stars of Paradise Tours & Attractions) - Mr. White testified in opposition of using transportation funds to go into competition with his companies - to buy BRT buses that will go into Waikiki. He stated that existing commercial carriers should be used for the bus system.

Troy Iwamoto (Roberts Hawaii Tours) (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Iwamoto testified in support of the privatization of buses - using private buses, including the leasing of them.

Gerald Hayashi (Roberts Hawaii Tours) (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Hayashi testified in opposition of the BRT system, since it would have a negative impact on his company and would cause extra traffic problems in Mapunapuna.

George Kahanu, Jr. (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Kahanu testified in opposition of the BRT system, since it would have a disruptive impact on traffic.

Mark Rubenstein (Superstar - Hawaii Transit Services) - Mr. Rubenstein testified in opposition of the BRT system in Waikiki.

Tony Rutledge (Unity House) - Mr. Rutledge testified in favor of delaying the BRT. He stated that, due to economic downturn, the timing is not appropriate to spend the money to build the BRT.

Ed McInerny (EMC Enterprises) - Mr. McInerny testified in opposition of a light rail system. He stated that it won't help the Windward, East Honolulu, and Leeward portions of the island. He asked that it be deferred until the long-term impacts can be assessed.

Conrad Okuma (E Noa Corporation) (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Okuma testified in opposition of the BRT system in Waikiki.

Tom Dinell (E Noa Corporation) (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Dinell questioned the need for the BRT system in Waikiki, and stated a preference for a terminus at Saratoga Street instead.

Katsumi Tanaka (E Noa Corporation) (written testimony submitted) - Mr. Tanaka testified in opposition of the BRT system in Waikiki.

Ron York (land owner & small business owner) - Mr. R. York testified in opposition of the BRT system. He stated that the loss of one lane in the Dillingham corridor will adversely impact traffic in the area.

Marsha Wong - Ms. M. Wong testified in support of Clyde Tamaye's written testimony in opposition of the BRT system and favoring an alternative solution.

Christina Kemmer (C&C Transportation Commission & a public transportation user) - Ms. Kemmer testified in support of the BRT system.

Dick (Grass Root Institute of Hawaii) - Dick testified in opposition of the BRT system.

Bruce Coppa (Pacific Resource Partnership, CAC) - Someone, speaking for Mr. Coppa, stated that Mr. Coppa stands by his previous testimony at the September 14 portion of the meeting, in support of the BRT system.

James York - Mr. J. York testified in opposition of the BRT system.

Chair Kawamoto noted that the Policy Committee members received information that was requested at the September 14 portion of the meeting: 1) a revised financial plan from the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) for the BRT project, not including $40 million in State funds; 2) a proposed revision from the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the Leeward Community College (LCC) Access Improvement project; and 3) a proposed revision from DOT regarding the Nimitz Highway Improvements project.

Vice Chair Bainum moved and Councilmember John Henry Felix seconded that the FYs 2002-2004 TIP be endorsed as presented, including the adjustments DOT made on the LCC Access Improvements project.

http://oahumpo.org/PC/pc2001/pc01mm0914_19.html

"When we began looking at transit alternatives three and a half years ago, we started by asking people what they wanted," said Councilmember Duke Bainum, chair of the Transportation Committee and mayoral candidate. "The answer was very clear, a bus system that is faster, quicker, more reliable — and flexible enough to grow and change with the city."
     —Curt Sanburn http://www.honoluluweekly.com/archives/coverstory%20%202002/05-29-02%20BRT/05-29-02%20Brt.html

Testimony from NB5: For three years, the citizens of Honolulu have been asking both the City Council and the DTS to conduct coned testing on with Honolulu's present articulated buses the proposed in-town BRT routes.  City Council Resolution 00-280 was intended to initiate testing of some of these routes, but the former chair of the City Council's Transportation Committee, Councilmember Bainum, refused to schedule a public hearing on this Resolution supported by other Councilmembers.  Many community leaders believe that if such a trial were ever performed, it would quickly become known that the proposed in-town BRT would be a failure. And this can be the only reason the City Administration has ignored the public's pleas. So it appears that special interest agreements may be held at a higher value by these elected officials -at a great and detrimental future cost to Honolulu taxpayers.

For three years, the citizens of Honolulu have been asking both the City Council and the DTS to conduct coned testing on with Honolulu's present articulated buses the proposed in-town BRT routes.  City Council Resolution 00-280 was intended to initiate testing of some of these routes, but the former chair of the City Council's Transportation Committee, Councilmember Bainum, refused to schedule a public hearing on this Resolution supported by other Councilmembers.  Many community leaders believe that if such a trial were ever performed, it would quickly become known that the proposed in-town BRT would be a failure. And this can be the only reason the City Administration has ignored the public's pleas. So it appears that special interest agreements may be held at a higher value by these elected officials -at a great and detrimental future cost to Honolulu taxpayers.

Indeed, the City Administration is notorious for ignoring traffic congestion in the Honolulu urban core. Traffic signals have remained unsynchronized on all but a few streets, while the City has had the capability for several years to electronically synchronize traffic lights to facilitate effective traffic movement. Perhaps through such a lack of efficiency they believe they can press the public into buying into the BRT.  In any event, the City Administration has not implemented all remedies before proceeding with the proposed In-Town BRT.

For three years, the citizens of Honolulu have been asking both the City Council and the DTS to conduct coned testing on with Honolulu's present articulated buses the proposed in-town BRT routes.  City Council Resolution 00-280 was intended to initiate testing of some of these routes, but the former chair of the City Council's Transportation

Certainly, as we have seen and heard from independent traffic and transportation professionals, there are many less expensive applications that can and should be made to relieve traffic congestion as we know it today. But nevertheless, the in-town BRT is aimed to be launched in the area of greatest impact so the remainder of the in-town portion will be less prone to public opposition in the future. The City Administration’s excuse for implementing the least workable in-town portion of the project before the most beneficial Regional portion is that the State is not ready to make the few highway improvements needed for the Regional portion. There is also a question of whether the State is willing to turn over State-owned in-town roads for the purposes of the BRT, including Aloha Tower Drive, Ala Moana Boulevard from the Ala Wai Bridge to Nimitz Highway, Halekauwila Street, Forrest Avenue, Ward Avenue, and portions of Kalia Road, as they did with the segment of Ala Moana Boulevard from the Ala Wai Bridge to Kalia Road under a Memorandum of Agreement for liability purposes.

 So we ask, what is the rush to implement the in-town portion first? Is it for the stated mere savings in time of 1.9 minutes over the present bus service? We must wonder what the impetus for such an aggressive and impatient mindset can be. Then we look at all the plans being proposed for the Honolulu urban center and the vision becomes clear: Etc.

http://www.honolulutraffic.com/NB5comms.htm

Opponents such as community activist Michelle Matson reminded Council members that state transportation officials have warned that it could make travel worse for motorists in certain areas of town.

Councilman Duke Bainum, who has led the Transportation Committee for the last several years, said the Bus Rapid Transit project likely will rank among the most significant acts of legislation passed during his two terms in office.

"We can complain about traffic, or we can move ahead and take a chance," Bainum said.

The plan is "not perfect," he said, "but certainly better than anything that's been proposed before."

http://starbulletin.com/2002/06/27/news/story5.html