DEIS Has ‘Environmental Justice’ Component

An important piece of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Honolulu rail project is Environmental Justice – EJ for short. President Clinton signed Executive Order 12898 in 1994 directing Federal agencies:

“…to take appropriate and necessary steps to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse effects of their projects on the health or environment of minority and low-income populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. The order directs Federal actions, including transportation projects, to use existing law to avoid discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and to avoid disproportionately high and adverse impacts on minority and low-income populations.” (a quote in the DEIS)

The project team has reached out to minority communities by conducting numerous meetings and distributing publications printed in a variety of languages – Chinese, English, Ilocano, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Samoan, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. The outreach has included coordination with local churches, health centers and local civic and ethnic organizations.

Chapter 4 of the DEIS – Environmental Analysis, Consequences and Mitigation – discusses EJ beginning on page 4-46.

DEIS Comment Period Extended to Feb. 6

The City’s Department of Transportation Services has extended the public comment period on the proposed Honolulu rail transit system's Draft Environmental Statement (DEIS) to February 6. The four-week extension will give citizens more opportunity to review the document and comment on its contents. As we noted in the post immediately below, the DEIS covers four alternatives; that post has clickable links to the Statement’s several chapters.

Four Alternatives Reviewed in Transit DEIS

All the attention Honolulu’s rail transit system has received in 2008 in scores of media stories could easily have left some citizens wondering about what’s up for review. Several “alternatives” have been evaluated during the project’s many stages, leaving yet another set of “alternatives” that are under review in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

The DEIS can eliminate any residual confusion, starting with what is not in doubt. The Honolulu system being studied would be an elevated fixed guideway, separated from street and highway traffic and therefore operating at predictable departure and arrival times. And, steel wheel on steel rail technology was selected as the technology to operate on the guideway.

The focus of the DEIS is the evaluation of three “build alternatives” with different route alignments, and one “no build alternative” that assesses what future conditions would be if none of the “build” alternatives were implemented.

The Four Alternatives

• No Build Alternative –This alternative includes completion of the committed transportation projects identified in the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Oahu Regional Transportation Plan.
• Fixed Guideway Transit Alternative via Salt Lake Boulevard.
• Fixed Guideway Transit Alternative via the Airport.
• Fixed Guideway Alternative via the Airport and Salt Lake.

Each of these is evaluated in great detail in the DEIS, which citizens can comment on through January 7, 2009. Written comments may be sent to the Department of Transportation Services, 650 South King Street, 3rd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Comments must be received or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on January 7.

Copies of the Draft EIS also can be reviewed at State libraries, the City library, the Department of Transportation Services (at the above address) and at the Rapid Transit Division office, 1099 Alakea Street, Suite 1700.

The DEIS can be read at your leisure at the project’s website. Here’s a list of the contents; go to the Decmber 4th post for links :

Executive Summary
Chapter 1 – Background, Purpose and Need
Chapter 2 – Alternatives Considered
Chapter 3 – Transportation (existing and future 2030 transportation system conditions, service characteristics, performance and transportation-related effects of the Project’s alternatives)
Chapter 4 – Environmental Analysis, Consequences and Mitigation
Chapter 5 – Section 4(f) Evaluation (protection of public parklands and recreational lands, wildlife refuges and historic sites of national, state or local significance)
Chapter 6 – Cost and Financial Analsys
Chapter 7 – Evaluation of Alternatives
Chapter 8 – Comments and Coordination
Appendix A – Conceptual Alignment Plans and Profiles
Appendix B – Conceptual Right-of-Way Plans
Appendix C – Construction Approach
Appendix D – Record of Agency Correspondence and Coordination
Appendix E – Record of Public and Stakeholder Correspondence and Coordination

DEIS Comments Can Be Given Until January 7

Last night’s hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Honolulu’s rail transit project was the last of five such events, but the public comment period will remain open until January 7. Written comments may be sent to the Department of Transportation Services, 650 South King Street, 3rd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Comments must be received or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on January 7, 2009.

Copies of the Draft EIS also can be reviewed at State libraries, the City library, the Department of Transportation Services (at the above address) and at the Rapid Transit Division office, 1099 Alakea Street, Suite 1700.

DEIS Chapter List

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Honolulu fixed guideway transit project can be read at your leisure at the project’s website. Here’s a list of the contents; go to the Decmber 4th post for links:

Executive Summary
Chapter 1 – Background, Purpose and Need
Chapter 2 – Alternatives Considered
Chapter 3 – Transportation (existing and future 2030 transportation system conditions, service characteristics, performance and transportation-related effects of the Project’s alternatives)
Chapter 4 – Environmental Analysis, Consequences and Mitigation
Chapter 5 – Section 4(f) Evaluation (protection of public parklands and recreational lands, wildlife refuges and historic sites of national, state or local significance)
Chapter 6 – Cost and Financial Analsys
Chapter 7 – Evaluation of Alternatives
Chapter 8 – Comments and Coordination
Appendix A – Conceptual Alignment Plans and Profiles
Appendix B – Conceptual Right-of-Way Plans
Appendix C – Construction Approach
Appendix D – Record of Agency Correspondence and Coordination
Appendix E – Record of Public and Stakeholder Correspondence and Coordination

Final DEIS Hearing Set for Bishop Museum

The Filipino Community Center audience listens to testimony at tonight's public hearing.

The traveling transit public hearing caravan rolled into Waipahu’s Filipino Community Center this evening and will make its final stop from 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street in Honolulu.

Numerous display boards will be erected on a wide variety of topics and issues related to Honolulu’s rapid transit project. Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be available for review, and project representatives will be present to answer questions.

Although Thursday’s hearing will be the last of five such events, the public comment period will remain open until January 7. Written comments may be sent to the Department of Transportation Services, 650 South King Street, 3rd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Comments must be received or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on January 7, 2009.

Copies of the Draft EIS also can be reviewed at State libraries, the City library, the Department of Transportation Services (at the above address) and at the Rapid Transit Division office, 1099 Alakea Street, Suite 1700.

DEIS Chapter List

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Honolulu fixed guideway transit project can be read at your leisure at the project’s website. Here’s a list of the contents; go to the Decmber 4th post for links:

Executive Summary
Chapter 1 – Background, Purpose and Need
Chapter 2 – Alternatives Considered
Chapter 3 – Transportation (existing and future 2030 transportation system conditions, service characteristics, performance and transportation-related effects of the Project’s alternatives)
Chapter 4 – Environmental Analysis, Consequences and Mitigation
Chapter 5 – Section 4(f) Evaluation (protection of public parklands and recreational lands, wildlife refuges and historic sites of national, state or local significance)
Chapter 6 – Cost and Financial Analsys
Chapter 7 – Evaluation of Alternatives
Chapter 8 – Comments and Coordination
Appendix A – Conceptual Alignment Plans and Profiles
Appendix B – Conceptual Right-of-Way Plans
Appendix C – Construction Approach
Appendix D – Record of Agency Correspondence and Coordination
Appendix E – Record of Public and Stakeholder Correspondence and Coordination

3 Down, 2 To Go; Hearings Move to Waipahu

This board and many others on the Honolulu rapid transit project

will be on display at the Waipahu and Bishop Museum public hearings.

Three public hearings have been completed on the Honolulu transit project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement.  Tuesday night's event was in Salt Lake; 14 persons testified, with many more listening in the audience, discussing the project with representatives and reviewing the many display boards, like the one above.

Here’s the schedule for the two remaining hearings on Wednesday and Thursday evenings:

• Dec. 10 – 6 to 8 p.m., Filipino Community Center, 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu.
• Dec. 11 – 6 to 8 p.m., Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street.

The public comment period will remain open until January 7. Comments can be given in several ways -- verbally in the hearing room to the hearing officer (and recorded by a stenographer); verbally in a private session with a stenographer in an adjacent room; in writing on a comment form that can be left in a locked box at the hearing; at the project website and in written form sent to the Department of Transportation Services, 650 South King Street, 3rd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Comments must be received or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on January 7, 2009.

Copies of the Draft EIS are on display at the hearings and also can be reviewed at State libraries, the City library, the Department of Transportation Services (at the above address) and at the Rapid Transit Division office, 1099 Alakea Street, Suite 1700.

DEIS Chapter List

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Honolulu fixed guideway transit project can be read at your leisure at the project’s website. Here’s a list of the contents; go to this blog's December 4th post for links :

Executive Summary
Chapter 1 – Background, Purpose and Need
Chapter 2 – Alternatives Considered
Chapter 3 – Transportation (existing and future 2030 transportation system conditions, service characteristics, performance and transportation-related effects of the Project’s alternatives)
Chapter 4 – Environmental Analysis, Consequences and Mitigation
Chapter 5 – Section 4(f) Evaluation (protection of public parklands and recreational lands, wildlife refuges and historic sites of national, state or local significance)
Chapter 6 – Cost and Financial Analsys
Chapter 7 – Evaluation of Alternatives
Chapter 8 – Comments and Coordination
Appendix A – Conceptual Alignment Plans and Profiles
Appendix B – Conceptual Right-of-Way Plans
Appendix C – Construction Approach
Appendix D – Record of Agency Correspondence and Coordination
Appendix E – Record of Public and Stakeholder Correspondence and Coordination

Public Hearings Begin on Transit’s Draft EIS

One of the many display boards available for viewing at

the public hearings on the transit project's Draft EIS.

• 12/7 Update:  See today's Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin coverage.

The first of five public hearings on the Honolulu transit project’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement was conducted in Kapolei this morning. Here’s the schedule for the remaining hearings, Tuesday through Thursday evenings:

• Dec. 9 – 6 to 8 p.m., Salt Lake District Park, 1159 Ala Lilikoi Place.
• Dec. 10 – 6 to 8 p.m., Filipino Community Center, 94-428 Mokuola Street.
• Dec. 11 – 6 to 8 p.m., Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street.

The public comment period will remain open until January 7. Written comments may be sent to the Department of Transportation Services, 650 South King Street, 3rd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Comments must be received or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on January 7, 2009.

Copies of the Draft EIS also can be reviewed at State libraries, the City library, the Department of Transportation Services (at the above address) and at the Rapid Transit Division office, 1099 Alakea Street, Suite 1700.

DEIS Chapter List

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Honolulu fixed guideway transit project can be read at your leisure at the project’s website. Here’s a list of the contents, below.  (See December 4th post for clickable links.)

Executive Summary
Chapter 1 – Background, Purpose and Need
Chapter 2 – Alternatives Considered
Chapter 3 – Transportation (existing and future 2030 transportation system conditions, service characteristics, performance and transportation-related effects of the Project’s alternatives)
Chapter 4 – Environmental Analysis, Consequences and Mitigation
Chapter 5 – Section 4(f) Evaluation (protection of public parklands and recreational lands, wildlife refuges and historic sites of national, state or local significance)
Chapter 6 – Cost and Financial Analsys
Chapter 7 – Evaluation of Alternatives
Chapter 8 – Comments and Coordination
Appendix A – Conceptual Alignment Plans and Profiles
Appendix B – Conceptual Right-of-Way Plans
Appendix C – Construction Approach
Appendix D – Record of Agency Correspondence and Coordination
Appendix E – Record of Public and Stakeholder Correspondence and Coordination

Haven’t Commented on Transit’s Draft EIS Yet? Here’s the Chapter List of What You’re Missing

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Honolulu fixed guideway transit project can be read at your leisure at the project’s website. Here’s a list of the contents, with links:

Executive Summary
Chapter 1 – Background, Purpose and Need
Chapter 2 – Alternatives Considered
Chapter 3 – Transportation (existing and future 2030 transportation system conditions, service characteristics, performance and transportation-related effects of the Project’s alternatives)
Chapter 4, Part 1 – Environmental Analysis, Consequences and Mitigation

Chapter 4, Part 2
Chapter 5 – Section 4(f) Evaluation (protection of public parklands and recreational lands, wildlife refuges and historic sites of national, state or local significance)
Chapter 6 – Cost and Financial Analysis
Chapter 7 – Evaluation of Alternatives (within Chapter 6's link)
Chapter 8 – Comments and Coordination (within Chapter 6's link)
Appendix A – Conceptual Alignment Plans and Profiles
Appendix B – Conceptual Right-of-Way Plans
Appendix C – Construction Approach
Appendix D – Record of Agency Correspondence and Coordination
Appendix E – Record of Public and Stakeholder Correspondence and Coordination

Public Hearing Schedule

Here’s the schedule for public hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the City’s elevated transit system:

• Dec. 6 – 9 to 11 a.m., Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia Street.
• Dec. 8 – 6 to 8 p.m., Hawaii Suites, Neal Blaisdell Center, 777 Ward Avenue.
• Dec. 9 – 6 to 8 p.m., Salt Lake District Park, 1159 Ala Lilikoi Place.
• Dec. 10 – 6 to 8 p.m., Filipino Community Center, 94-428 Mokuola Street.
• Dec. 11 – 6 to 8 p.m., Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street.

The public comment period will remain open until January 7. Written comments may be sent to the Department of Transportation Services, 650 South King Street, 3rd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813. Comments must be received or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on January 7, 2009.  Comments also may be made online.

In addition to online access, copies of the Draft EIS can be reviewed in person at State libraries, the City library, the Department of Transportation Services (at the above address) and at the Rapid Transit Division office, 1099 Alakea Street, Suite 1700.