Here’s a quick observation.
The Star-Advertiser reported this week on the continuing problems of substandard public transportation along the windward side of Oahu from Kaneohe out to Laie and around the north shore (“Bus cuts leaving East Oahu residents stranded“).
Here’s the S-A summary of the issue:
The bus woes date back to 2011, when city transportation officials lengthened the average wait time between Route 55 buses to 40 minutes from 32 minutes and then made the wait a full hour as part of islandwide bus cuts in 2012. In 2013, Mayor Kirk Caldwell restored much of the cuts after pledging to do so in his campaign. Route 55 was only partially restored, however. It now runs every 45 minutes or so, riders say.
Buses along the route often become quickly overcrowded during peak hours, prompting drivers to skip stops — and leave any passengers there waiting for the next bus — until someone on board exits to make space, according to residents who’ve observed the route. Furthermore, Route 55 buses don’t leave early enough in the morning from rural communities such as Hauula for their riders to make it to work and school on time in town, they add.
And when the buses are full, riders have to stand. And that’s a very, very long ride if you’re sitting, and must feel much longer if you’re standing, I’m sure.
So that’s half of the story.
At the same time, the Honolulu City Council member who represents the district is Ernie Martin. He happens to be the current council chair, and has aspirations to be mayor. He’s said to be preparing a run against Mayor Kirk Caldwell, although as recently as mid-January his campaign held a fundraiser and filed paperwork identifying the office being sought as “City Council.”
I’m wondering what Martin has done to support the residents of his district who have been seeking remedies to the current situation for years? He’s not mentioned in the S-A story. I’m not asking rhetorically. I would really like to know about his record on aiding these constituents.
I tried stumbling around in the city’s Docushare system searching for correspondence or bills/resolutions dealing with the issue, but came up confused and blank.
If there’s a record of actions to be found, I’m hoping someone out there can point me in the right direction.
As a former Kaaawa resident, I’m painfully aware at how it feels to be left waiting a the bus stop because there wasn’t any room for additional passengers. And the wait for the next bus is nearly an hour. Not a happy situation.
It doesn’t appear that Martin has been much help in addressing the transportation problem, despite being council chair, but that could be way off base.
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Meanwhile, a potty house at Kaiaka Beach Park is still closed more than two years after some cretins torched the roof, and the city uses that as an excuse to prohibit camping there all this time. Same council district.
If I really wanted to know what my Councilmember was doing (or not doing) about a particular issue, I would simply call up or write to his/her office to ask. Gasp! A low-tech solution, I know. But one that has never failed me with the city and state lawmakers in my district. I may not have cared for or agreed with all of the responses I got, but some sort of response, I did get back each time. If this method gets you ignored, then simply remember that when election time rolls around.
As to the situation regarding TheBus’ budget and service cutback situation, the one thing I do remember concerning Ernie Martin was his *opposition* to a proposal to increase revenue with billboard ads on the outside of city buses. It is a stance currently stated on his website.
http://erniemartinatcitycouncil.com/2014/01/16/bus-advertising-proposal-should-be-nixed/
I guess ole’ Eagle Eyed Ernie is mysteriously blind to all the advertising on privately operated tourist buses and shuttles. It’s okay for the tour companies to make an easy buck, but not okay for the city buses to restore services to the bus riders?
Folks, just remember the length of time waiting at a bus stop or standing in a crowded bus whenever some busybody from the Outdoor Circle comes soliciting signatures for a petition banning billboards on city buses at your neighborhood board or community event. Betcha that busybody won’t be coming-and-going on a city bus, either.
Wake up, people!
There’s a LOT of advertising inside The Bus, including an uncensored bunch of The-world-is-ending-come-to-Jesus ads that are apparently just fine with CCH while the Unite Here! ads criticizing Aston hotels had disclaimer stickers plastered on them.
While Councilmember Pine has made TheBus situation in her district known (she even stated they discussed adding service earlier in the morning), the same is not true for Chair Martin.
Martin is more like a martinet than a public servant.
I must say that I have never taken this Route 55 bus, but I recall that when reading information for visiting tourists, it is often recommended as a cheap and convenient way to tour O’ahu without the hassles of car rental, parking and driving in traffic, or taking a private tour. And on a recent driving trip to M?laekahana State Recreation Area, it seemed that there were quite a few visitors using this bus service. Perhaps, when an excursion starts in town, the bus has many empty seats, and those rural residents who board mid-route must stand or wait for the next arrival. Maybe providing longer articulating buses would be an alternative if more frequent service is problematic.
Good idea, but as I recall, the articulated buses have a hard time getting through some of the roadways on the north shore.