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