City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2012 / 08/09/12 DOT Launches Annual "Beat The School Jam" Campaign

DOT LAUNCHES ANNUAL "BEAT THE SCHOOL JAM" CAMPAIGN, ZIPPERLANE REQUIREMENTS TO BE LOWERED, DAYTIME LANE CLOSURES POSTPONED   (Thurs., August 9, 2012) — As part of the annual "Beat the School Jam" campaign, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today plans to postpone construction-related lane closures during daylight hours on major highways on Monday, August 20, through Friday, August 24, to alleviate traffic congestion during the week when approximately 40,000 university, college, and private school students begin their fall semesters.               "We want to remind motorists to expect additional traffic on our roadways, especially beginning Monday, August 20," said DOT Director Glenn Okimoto. "57,000 university and private school students will be returning to classes throughout the month of August, so we encourage people to make use of alternative modes of transportation like carpooling, bicycling, walking or riding TheBus to avoid the increased traffic."               To help maintain traffic flow with the added congestion, DOT also announced that ridership requirements for the H-1 Freeway ZipperLane and the Nimitz Highway Contraflow Lane will be modified beginning on Monday, August 13. Vehicles with two or more passengers will be able to use the lanes for the full operating hours from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m., during weekday morning rush-hours. "The ZipperLane ridership changes will help to balance the traffic flow by maximizing the use of all available lanes into the Honolulu area," said Okimoto. "The changes will begin on Monday, August 13, to give motorists an extra week to adjust their schedules to find the best possible fit."               Commuters are encouraged to take advantage of the www.GoAkamai.org traffic information website to make commutes easier and faster. The website is continuously updated and provides a color-coded congestion map and snapshots from over 200 traffic cameras around Oahu. Also provided are links to both city and state construction lane closures and trip-planning information from TheBus. The website is a collaborative effort of the DOT and the City and County of Honolulu.               Motorists are advised to adjust their commute times accordingly to avoid peak travel periods and are reminded to properly maintain and inspect their vehicles to avoid becoming potential road hazards. Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) tow trucks will be on-duty to provide free emergency roadside service to keep traffic moving on the H-1, H-2 and H-201 Moanalua Freeways between the Kunia, Waipio, and University areas from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays. Stranded motorists can call FSP at 841-HELP (4357). For more info, visit www.fsphawaii.com.               Transportation alternatives include biking to work, taking TheBus, and signing students up for public or private school buses. Carpooling or vanpooling with a neighbor or friend can also allow motorists to utilize both High Occupancy Vehicle lanes (two or more individuals per vehicle) on our state highways and the H-1 Freeway ZipperLane and Nimitz Highway Contraflow Lane. During the daytime construction hiatus on August 20 through 24, emergency closures, nighttime construction and roadwork that does not involve lane closures, such as shoulder maintenance or landscaping work, may still be scheduled.               Along with regular city bus service, TheBus offers express service during the morning and afternoon rush-hours and will be working with schools and businesses to encourage more ridership. Students from sixteen universities and colleges can purchase discounted U-Pass bus passes. Employers can participate in the City's tax-deductible bus pass program for their employees. For more information, call 848-5555 or visit www.thebus.org.             The Leeward Oahu Transportation Management Association (LOTMA) manages programs designed to accommodate the growing travel needs of Leeward Oahu communities including free carpool matching. For more information, call 677-RIDE (7433) or visit www.lotma.org.

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2012 / 08/09/12 HART To Add 800 Train Car Seats

HART TO ADD 800 TRAIN CAR SEATS     (Thu., August 9, 2012) − The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), at the direction of its board of directors, announced Thursday that it will pursue adding 800 passenger seats to its rail-car fleet.   Seating in each two-car train will increase by more than 25 percent, going from 76 to 96 seats, while still retaining room for luggage, bikes and surfboards, according to HART CEO and Executive Director Daniel Grabauskas.   "The public has told us that they would like more seats on the trains and we've listened," Grabauskas said. "The increased seating will be designed to enhance the riding experience and to increase passenger comfort."   Grabauskas said the cost for the additional seats will be made up by savings incurred from recent cuts to HART's budget.   "Any cost savings we can yield will be redirected to the design and construction of the rail system," Grabauskas said. "Oahu's state-of-the art rail system will be safe, reliable and comfortable. And the addition of seats is part of that overall goal.We need to be flexible and open to making adjustments that are in consumers' and taxpayers' best interest – and that's what we've done here."   The 20-mile rail transit route will run from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, with stops at major employment and destination centers, including Aloha Stadium, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu International Airport and Downtown Honolulu near Aloha Tower. Trains will arrive every three minutes at the stations during morning and afternoon rush hours.   - 30 -   Media Contact: Jeanne Mariani-Belding (808) 768-6145, cell: (808) 489-2530

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2012 / 08/08/12 Royal Hawaiian Band's August 12 Concert Moved

ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND'S AUGUST 12 CONCERT MOVED     (Wed., August 8, 2012) − The Royal Hawaiian band concert on Sunday, August 12, will be held at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel Coconut Grove, the hotel's garden area.  The location of the Sunday performance was changed because of construction work at Kapiolani Park Bandstand.               For the monthly schedule of performances go to www.rhb-music.com/     - 30 -

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2012 / 08/08/12 Mayor Carlisle Invites Teachers To 'Discover Recycling' Event

MAYOR CARLISLE INVITES TEACHERS TO 'DISCOVER RECYCLING' EVENT   (Wed., Aug. 8, 2012)—Mayor Peter Carlisle and his environmental services team encourage Oahu teachers to attend the 8th annual Discover Recycling event on Saturday, September 22 – a one-day showcase of recycling resources for schools and educators. The event includes a bus tour of Oahu's recycling and waste processing facilities and a visit to a "green" school, followed by a "Zero-Landfill" lunch and a presentation of resources offered by the City to help schools recycle and to teach recycling in the classroom.   "Education is key to the success of recycling, and our kids can play a significant role," said Carlisle. "Recent surveys have confirmed that household recycling levels are affected by the knowledge of the entire family. Students who learn about recycling at school are able to take that expertise home to help their family recycle more."   The Discover Recycling event is free for teachers, but registration is required. Teachers can register by calling 768-3200. More information is available at http://www.opala.org/ .   The City's Department of Environmental Services has much to offer teachers and schools: Tour de Trash field trips, student activity books, recycling education shows, campus recycling project assistance, and more. The http://www.opala.org/ website is the central tool for tapping into the City's resources, and attending Discover Recycling brings it all to life. Click on the site's Learning Center link for more information.   Another educational opportunity is the "Sort it Out" recycling show that tours Oahu's schools. Through a partnership with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, "Sort It Out" will continue for a third season, from January through March 2013. The show features a 60-minute play filled with song, laughter and games – entertaining students while educating them about the City's curbside recycling program. The shows are free, but schools are advised to reserve early, as limited shows are available. For more information, contact HTY Schools Reservation Manager at 839-9885 or email schools@htyweb.org   The City has long emphasized the importance of effective public education to the success of recycling. This year, Honolulu was among the top three finalists for the national 2012 Green City Award, and Honolulu's recycling coordinator received national recognition as one the top women professionals in the recycling industry. On July 26th, the City's Curbside Recycling Public Education campaign was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America with a Koa Anvil Award.   The Anvil awards recognize comprehensive campaigns, and are judged on the effectiveness of the research, strategic planning, creative execution and results. The components of the City's campaign included The Green Channel on Oceanic Time Warner Cable 332, the www.opala.org website, the school recycling shows and student activity books, a partnership with Costco to provide in-store recycling education, and a comprehensive analysis presented in the Curbside Recycling Program Evaluation and Strategic Planning Report. Judges notes "excellent use of research both before and after the campaign launch" and "very thorough research and good results."   The City plans to sustain and expand upon these creative educational programs as we move forward to further increase recycling in the coming year.   -30-   Media contact: Louise Kim McCoy, Mayor's Office, 768-7798.

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2012 / 08/07/12 Smoke Testing in Kaneohe Aug. 10-17

CITY SMOKE TESTING WASTEWATER PIPES IN KANEOHE   (Tue., Aug. 7, 2012) – The City's Department of Environmental Services (ENV) will smoke test a portion of the wastewater collection system in Kaneohe August 10-17.            The daytime testing, which may last up to a week, is part of ENV's preventative maintenance program to prevent rainwater from entering the sewer system. ENV crews pump smoke into sewer pipes, examine whether smoke escapes and record its location. The smoke used is non-toxic, harmless and minimal odor. The smoke is neither a fire hazard nor health hazard to humans and pets.            Tests locate broken pipes, illegal connections, open cleanouts and other paths for runoff to enter the sewer system. Runoff from heavy rain can overwhelm and surcharge the sewer system and treatment plants, causing sanitary sewer overflows.            Residents and affected businesses were notified by mail and door notices. In addition, ENV will contact Fire and Police communications centers at the beginning of each testing day. The attached map illustrates the streets that will be tested.                                                                                                                                                      -30-     Contact:  Markus Owens, ENV Public Communications Officer, 768-3454

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2012 / 08/07/12 Construction Starts On Train Maintenance Facility, System Control Center In Waipahu

CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON TRAIN MAINTENANCE FACILITY, SYSTEM CONTROL CENTER IN WAIPAHU   (Tue., August 7, 2012) − Construction begins this week on the Honolulu rail transit system's train Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) in Waipahu, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) announced today.   The train maintenance facility will be located on a 43-acre site off Farrington Highway between Leeward Community College and Waipahu High School. The site will also house the train control center that will operate the 20-mile elevated rail system from East Kapolei to Ala Moana. A short blessing was held yesterday.   "This facility will house the 'brains and trains' of the rail system in which the driverless trains and other rail operations will be controlled from this location," HART CEO and Executive Director Dan Grabauskas said. "This latest construction underway shows the rail project continues moving forward and is on the right track."   Along with the train system control center, the facility will house a maintenance building for track inspection and repairs; a train vehicle wash facility; and train wheel repair center.   Contractor Kiewit/Kobayashi, a Joint Venture will conduct grading work on weekdays between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Lane closures are not required for this portion of the work, but drivers and pedestrians using Ala Ike Street connecting to Leeward Community College should watch for construction vehicles entering and exiting the construction site. The public is advised to proceed with caution around the designated work zones and to not cross any barricades fencing off the work areas.   The facility will be environmentally-friendly and meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification, with sustainable features including natural lighting and ventilation in buildings; use of recycled construction materials wherever possible; and water-efficient landscaping.   Kiewit/Kobayashi, a Joint Venture, was awarded the $195 million contract in 2010 to design and build the facility.   - 30 -   Media Contact: Scott Ishikawa cell: (808) 227-2350, office (808) 768-6172.

City and County of Honolulu News

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2012 / 08/07/2012 Classes offered to improve permit process

CLASSES OFFERED TO IMPROVE PERMIT PROCESS   (Tuesday, August 7, 2012)— The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) and the Building Industry Association (BIA) will hold a series of seminars in August and September to improve the quality of permit applications. The goal of this program is to reduce the delays in reviewing and approving permits for construction and development projects.               "It's crucial to shorten the time it takes to approve a permit application in order to provide significant savings to both businesses and residents," Mayor Peter Carlisle said. "This is a great example of the public and private sectors working together to improve government services."               The "how-to" classes are being offered as an educational opportunity for planning, design and construction professionals, as well as the public, to learn more about the City's planning and permitting process. DPP processed nearly 22,000 building permit applications last fiscal year, and many of these permits required multiple reviews before they were finally approved. In a joint effort to streamline and speed up the issuing of permits, the DPP and BIA are collaborating to ensure applications and construction drawings are as accurate and complete as possible to maximize the efficiency of the review process.                The topics will include general planning, land use permits, engineering and subdivision permits, building permits, and general permitting. The first session will be held August 28-30 and the same set of classes will be repeated September 17-20, 2012.  All classes will be conducted at the Building Industry Association-Hawaii center at 94-487 Akoki St. in Waipahu.               For more information and a list of classes, visit www.biahawaii.org, or www.honoluludpp.org.   -30-   Media contact: Curtis Lum, Public Information Officer, Department of Planning and Permitting, 768-8284.