CITY BREAKS GROUND FOR

TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS

            (Tuesday, July 13, 2010) – Mayor Mufi Hannemann and City officials broke ground this morning for the Alapai Transit Center and the first phase of the Joint Traffic Management Center.

            The $5-million Alapai Transit Center will feature four 50-foot-long bus shelters with seating for more than 40 riders, a 10-foot, multi-use path along South Hotel Street for bicycles and pedestrians, bicycle storage, sign and audio announcement systems, public restrooms, and landscaping.  The cost of the Alapai project is being split evenly between the City and Federal Transit Administration.

            Mayor Hannemann said, “The City has completed transit centers at Waianae and Mililani Town Center, with similar centers at Wahiawa and Middle Street now under construction.  Our work reflects our commitment to maintaining our nationally ranked bus system and supporting expanded bus ridership.”

            The mayor also broke ground for the parking structure for the Joint Traffic Management Center, representing the first phase of a multi-year, three-phase project.  The parking structure, to be built atop the transit center, will have 418 stalls on five levels.  The cost will be $20 million, all in City funds spread over several fiscal years.

The Joint Traffic Management Center will eventually house the traffic control operations of the City and state Department of Transportation, as well as operations of such first-responder agencies as Fire, Police, Emergency Services, and Emergency Management.

            Hannemann said, “The Joint Traffic Management Center will realize a long-held dream we’ve had of having traffic controls under one roof.  Not only will the City and state join forces, but we’ll also house first-responder and emergency management operations, creating a seamless organization that can respond to anything from traffic tie-ups to major crises.”

The parking structure is being built first to accommodate bus service.  Design work on the two remaining phases will begin this year, with construction slated for late 2012.

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Contact:

Bill Brennan, 768-6928