Thursday, December 4, 2008

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.

4 comments:

sumwonyuno said...

Hello Doug, I'm hoping you could answer questions I have about the project. If not, I'd appreciate if you could get the answers.

As I understand it, the first project will not have the guideway go over the connector to Nordstrom, and the station will be closer to ground level. A few weeks ago when I was watching a rebroadcast of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board, and Mr. Yoshioka talked about that this was the plan. He continued saying, in order to go over the connector, they would have to demolish the station and tracks, then rebuild it all again.

Though, in the DEIS' appendix, there are the engineering drawings. It shows the first project w/ two tracks and the station @ 40 ft AGL, and a future third track that branches out at Pensacola and above these to a higher station at 80 ft AGL. Does this mean that the City won't have to demolish and rebuild? Also, how would this configuration interface with the extensions to Waikiki and UHM?

Thanks.

Doug Carlson said...

Thanks for your questions, "sumwonyuno." I don't know the answers but will see if I can find someone who does. Check back for an update.

Doug Carlson said...

We haven't forgotten your inquiry, sumwonyuno, and we hope to have an answer before the week is out. The public hearings being held this week are soaking up a lot of staff attention, but please keep checking back for that answer.

Doug Carlson said...

Here's the answer we finally found for Sumwonyuno, posted on January 13:

Sumwonyuno, I have a response to your question and hope you can locate it here.

The present design has the Ala Moana station as a low-rise structure. It is being designed to accommodate a third track that will be connected to the lower track in the vicinity of Pensacola and Queen Streets. The intent of the design allows construction of the third track without demolishing the original trackway or station.

The University and Waikiki branches will operate as shuttles with a transfer station connection at Ala Moana above the original station. This will be a simple escalator or elevator trip between platforms and will provide easy transfer to either Waikiki or the University.

Hope that clears it up for you -- and that you found this response! Aloha ~Doug