DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (DTS)

January 2021 – December 2023

1. SKYLINE RAIL OPERATIONS
   After extensive testing of system operations, DTS took over responsibility for rail operations and maintenance (O&M) and successfully opened the first interim segment of Skyline between East Kapolei and Aloha Stadium in June 2023. Since June, DTS has continued to operate Skyline as part of a multi-modal transit operation with TheBus and The HandiVan.
2. NEW FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FOR DTS
   DTS successfully applied for competitive federal grants and secured over $128 million for the City over the past three years. This funding will assist DTS in delivering critical projects to the people of Honolulu, including bus electrification, the Ala Pono Ala Wai Bridge, South Shore Bike Path improvements, HOLO Card system expansion, improvements to The Handi-Van scheduling system, sidewalk improvements and Complete Streets projects across O‘ahu. Combined with regular formula federal grants, DTS brought in over $435 million for Honolulu taxpayers. The availability of federal grants allows DTS to reduce dependence on local taxpayer dollars and improve transportation and transit modes in the City.
3. COMPLETE STREETS
   DTS installed the following complete street features:
   
   1. In coordination with the State and other City departments, 43 speed humps and speed tables in 2022 and 2023 to control excessive speeds on O‘ahu roads.
   2. A separate walkway along Kamehameha IV Road and Kahauiki Street in the vicinity of Fern Elementary School.
   3. A multi-use pathway and improved crosswalks and bus stops at the Kualakaʻi East Kapolei and Keoneʻae UH West Oʻahu Skyline Stations.
   4. The community requested roundabouts and traffic calming devices in Village Park along Kūpuna Loop.
   5. Initial work on a permanent roundabout at the intersection of Kalāheo Avenue and Kailua Road.
   6. North King Street pedestrian safety improvements including pedestrian crossing beacons (RRFBs) and medians to improve the visibility of crossing pedestrians.
   7. Complete streets projects in Kakaʻako on Pohukaina, ʻAuahi, Cooke, and Kamakeʻe Streets.
   8. A variety of quick-build safety projects along Queen Street, Prospect Street, Kapolei Parkway, Harding Avenue, Ala Nāpunani Street, and more.
   9. Complete street plans for many neighborhoods including Kāneʻohe, Kailua, Kalihi, Kapālama, McCully, Ala Wai, Mōʻiliʻili/University, Keʻeaumoku, Pensacola, and Waikīkī.
   10. Final planning for the Waipiʻo Point Access Road multi-purpose path from Farrington Highway to the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail, fronting Waipahu High School and the Waipahu Clubhouse. Construction will be bid out in 2024.
4. ELECTRIFICATION OF TRANSPORTATION
   Consistent with the City’s plan to transition to an all-electric fleet by 2035, DTS installed an electric bus charger at the Kalihi-Pālama Bus Facility and placed 17 zero-emission electric buses in service.
5. BICYCLE IMPROVEMENTS
   Between 2021 and 2023, DTS developed 10.9 miles of new bike lanes/paths (3.2 miles in 2021, 2.8 miles in 2022, and 4.9 miles in 2023) on Pensacola Street, Ward Avenue, Alakea Street, Goodale Avenue, and Waipio Uka Street. DTS also began upgrading a portion of the Pearl Harbor Historic Bike Path through a demonstration project designed to prove major upgrades to the path in the future. For the North King Street Protected Bike lane, DTS is extending the protected lane from Middle Street to Liliha Street. DTS also commenced work with the State on the 30-mile South Shore Bike Path between Nānākuli and UH Mānoa/Waikīkī. Finally, DTS implemented an active transportation monitoring program to measure usage along bike paths island-wide.
6. CHINATOWN IMPROVEMENTS
   To increase pedestrian-friendly walkable corridors in Chinatown, DTS commenced construction on the Kekaulike Mall and Kekaulike Street in Chinatown including major drainage, lighting and aesthetic improvements. The Kekaulike Mall portion of the project will be completed in 2024 and the improvements to Kekaulike Street will follow. In Chinatown, DTS completed upgrades including the pedestrian safety bulb-outs along Pauahi Street in Chinatown. DTS also began infrastructure improvements and upgrades to City-owned Chinatown parking garages.
7. MAJOR MULTI-MODAL PROJECTS
   DTS completed 60% design on both the Kalauao Pearlridge Mobility Hub and the Ala Pono Ala Wai Bridge.
8. HOLO CARDS
   In 2023, DTS implemented a High School HOLO card project in cooperation with the State Department of Education, resulting in 16,000 participating students and $4 million in additional transit revenue. DTS also began planning for future enhancements to HOLO cards including a HOLO smartphone app, the ability to pay for transit using credit cards and HOLO card expansion to neighbor island counties financed by a federal grant.
9. PARKING IMPROVEMENTS
   DTS installed more than 4,000 new parking meter heads. All new parking meters now accept credit cards and accept remote payment via a smartphone app. DTS also created a ten-year contract for six municipal parking garages with a requirement that, in return for the longer leases, all parking facilities be modernized.
10. TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
    DTS authored and published O‘ahu’s first Pedestrian Plan in 2023. DTS also began developing the City’s Vision Zero Action Plan with a goal to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.