Is rush hour on Oahu only a problem in one direction? (Honolulu: how much, hotels)
OahuIncludes Honolulu
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I've read that it can take a long time to get from the West coast of Oahu to downtown Honolulu in the mornings, and a long time to get out of downtown in the afternoons, but my question is, is that traffic only one-way?
I'm not going to be working, so I can travel anytime. I'm trying to figure out if I time my bus trips to go out of downtown in the morning, and then back into town in the afternoon, will I be missing most of the rush hour traffic or is it bad in both directions?
The traffic issues on Oahu is example of the bad planning that our officials have, it's not just population. Now no matter what time you leave or go you will deal with some traffic. But anytime before the morning commute and the quiting time commutes are far better then these times. Have fun
A lot of it has to do with urban planning or the lack there of. For some unknown reason, the powers that be believe that it is improper to have employment sprinkled throughout housing areas. Look at Ewa Beach, Mililani and Kapolei with those miles of nothing but houses. If "walkability" was factored into city planning, then there wouldn't be so much need for cars. The people living in "residential only" zoning areas HAVE to commute to a job, they don't have any options unless they can work from home. Add the residential only zoning areas to the limited routes to and from those areas to where the employment areas have been sequestered and the result is horrific traffic.
I suspect a lot of the clumping together of manufacturing and industry (what there is of it) has more to do with the profit factor of the manufacturing and industrial sector than the workers. Also they want to be close to shipping areas to keep manufacturing transportation costs down, although they are doing that at the cost of the workers. If hotels would be structured so one floor of any hotel over twenty stories high was for the use of staff housing, that would keep a lot of folks from having to commute. If folks would do the math and see how much a long commute actually costs them, they'd be more diligent about either finding employment close to home or living close to employment.
A lot of it has to do with urban planning or the lack there of. For some unknown reason, the powers that be believe that it is improper to have employment sprinkled throughout housing areas. Look at Ewa Beach, Mililani and Kapolei with those miles of nothing but houses. If "walkability" was factored into city planning, then there wouldn't be so much need for cars. The people living in "residential only" zoning areas HAVE to commute to a job, they don't have any options unless they can work from home. Add the residential only zoning areas to the limited routes to and from those areas to where the employment areas have been sequestered and the result is horrific traffic.
I suspect a lot of the clumping together of manufacturing and industry (what there is of it) has more to do with the profit factor of the manufacturing and industrial sector than the workers. Also they want to be close to shipping areas to keep manufacturing transportation costs down, although they are doing that at the cost of the workers. If hotels would be structured so one floor of any hotel over twenty stories high was for the use of staff housing, that would keep a lot of folks from having to commute. If folks would do the math and see how much a long commute actually costs them, they'd be more diligent about either finding employment close to home or living close to employment.
You said exactly what I was going to say, further I was also going to say that there appears to be a reactive spirit among city planners vs thinking ahead. It's no surprise that our roads which is part of our infrastructure is inadequate and subpar to the population growrh, there are still areas where the city is now just replacing the ancient pipes used for waste etc. But to be fair there will come a time where no good planning will help, they will eventually run out of land on Oahu to build on.
Go ahead and tell us how the officials should have planned the traffic - perhaps they will read this forum and take your advice.
With mountains on one side of the freeway - and an ocean on the other side - this should be interesting.
Check my response to hotcatz. But you can't argue that roads and infrastructure is subpar for the population growth. We still have areas where roads are too narrow which just feeds into the traffic issues.
A lot of it has to do with urban planning or the lack there of. For some unknown reason, the powers that be believe that it is improper to have employment sprinkled throughout housing areas. Look at Ewa Beach, Mililani and Kapolei with those miles of nothing but houses.
I suspect a lot of the clumping together of manufacturing and industry (what there is of it) has more to do with the profit factor of the manufacturing and industrial sector than the workers. Also they want to be close to shipping areas to keep manufacturing transportation costs down, although they are doing that at the cost of the workers. If hotels would be structured so one floor of any hotel over twenty stories high was for the use of staff housing, that would keep a lot of folks from having to commute.
The largest employment groups on Oahu is the hospitality industry - military - and the State. Unless Waikiki is abandoned - or new military bases are built out west - the ports are relocated - or the state doesn't care the capital is near downtown (and can afford to relocate), then urban planning turned out the way it should.
(I also can't imagine workers living in a hotel, tourists would find that tacky, and I can't imagine that would be a great environment for kids - and one floor wouldn't exactly house that many people since I think there is only one hotel over 40 stories)
I've read that it can take a long time to get from the West coast of Oahu to downtown Honolulu in the mornings, and a long time to get out of downtown in the afternoons, but my question is, is that traffic only one-way?
I'm not going to be working, so I can travel anytime. I'm trying to figure out if I time my bus trips to go out of downtown in the morning, and then back into town in the afternoon, will I be missing most of the rush hour traffic or is it bad in both directions?
A lot of people coming into Honolulu, who live out west in Ewa Beach area, for example. Leave home by 5am
to beat the traffic into the H1/H2 Merge, where most of the bottle necks happen, in the am. Then its a pretty clean run into town, not counting any Auto accidents?? In the afternoon. Its a lot more congested like mentioned above posts. You just take your poison on how you want to commute everyday.
Most of the time. Yes the traffic will be easier if you travel in the opposite directions in the commute . But depending on the hours and the bus route, there is always traffic in the Middle street merge heading into Honolulu after 3pm, and it can back up. Depending on where you will be living, in Honolulu?
I've read that it can take a long time to get from the West coast of Oahu to downtown Honolulu in the mornings, and a long time to get out of downtown in the afternoons, but my question is, is that traffic only one-way?
I'm not going to be working, so I can travel anytime. I'm trying to figure out if I time my bus trips to go out of downtown in the morning, and then back into town in the afternoon, will I be missing most of the rush hour traffic or is it bad in both directions?
If you live in downtown and work on the west side like some friends of mine who work in Campbell's industrial area, traffic is MUCH better. There is virtually no traffic headed out in the morning going west (starting from Punchbowl/Nuuanu area all the way to Waianae) and that's even with the idiotic zipper lane blocking TWO west-bound lanes. You'll still get stuck in the east-bound afternoon commute headed back into town but it's only half as bad as going west in the afternoon.
Live close to work, commute during non-rush hour times and/or commute against the rush hour flow... and your typical Oahu traffic problems are solved. Traffic is only a problem for people that can't plan their lives properly.
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