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DRIVE TIME By Mike Leidemann |
While the city conducts "scoping" meetings about the need for a new mass transit system on O'ahu, a new survey indicates that a large number of senior citizens are thinking about the same issue.
Four out of five Americans 65 or older worry they won't be able to get around when they can no longer drive, according to the survey done for the American Public Transportation Association.
"Mobility security" is just as important as financial or medical security to those surveyed, said William Millar, president of the national transportation group.
The survey found that many seniors do not regularly use public transportation even when it's available. They prefer to drive. Still, more than 80 percent said they would be more inclined to use public transportation as they get older if it provided good public access to their neighborhoods. Many (68 percent) said they would use it more if stops were near businesses offering senior discounts.
The survey was conducted nationwide in late November by Harris Interactive.
PARADE
If you didn't get stuck behind a Christmas parade last week, you've got one more chance to do so this week.
ROADWORK
'Ewa. Renton Road and the future extension of Kapolei Parkway, new intersection.
Farrington Highway. Near Kahe Power Plant, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday, electric work. Honolulu-bound lane closed between Ala Akau Street and Ala Hema Street, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through tomorrow. Makaha-bound lane closed between Hakimo Road and Kaukama Road, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through tomorrow, guardrail installation.
Fort Weaver Road. Lane closures in both directions between Honouliuli Stream Bridge and the Farrington Highway overpass, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through tomorrow, pavement repairs.
H-1 Freeway. Pono and Ka'ahele streets closed 24 hours a day near Waimalu off-ramp, freeway widening. Westbound lane between 'Aiea and Pearl City closed 10 p.m. Friday through 8 a.m. Saturday, widening. Airport viaduct, possible shoulder lane closures in both directions between Ke'ehi Interchange and Radford Drive Overpass, daytime through Friday, drainage work. Westbound at Wai'alae Avenue, 10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, bridge work. Airport interchange to Middle Street, both directions, single-lane closings through Friday, guardrail installation. Eastbound near Aloha Stadium and Vineyard Boulevard, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. through Wednesday, guardrails. Westbound near Kapi'olani, 8:30 to 3 p.m. through tomorrow.
H-2 Freeway. Southbound near Mililani/Pearl City, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through tomorrow.
Halawa Heights Road. Possible lane closures between Fernridge Place and 'Iwa'iwa Street, near Camp Smith, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, roadway widening. Right mauka-bound lane along the Kahuapa'ani Overpass closed, bridge work.
Hale'iwa. Anahulu Stream, bridge rehabilitation.
Honolulu. Harding Avenue from 1st Avenue to Luawai Street, 6th Avenue from Harding Avenue to Palolo Avenue, Leahi Avenue from Kapahulu Avenue to Noela Street, 5th Avenue from Harding Avenue to dead end, reconstruction and repaving of streets. Kalaiopua Place, roadway reconstruction. North King Street, from Liliha Street to Morris Lane, street lighting. Ginger Street, Gardenia Street, Ginger Street to Carlos Long; Myrtle Street, Carlos Long to end; Narcissus street and place, rehabilitation of streets.
Kailua. Kainehe, Hamakua, and Keolu streets and Kalaheo Avenue from Kainua Drive to Ku'ulei Road, sewer work.
Kaimuki. Po'oleka Street to Waiomao Stream. Drainage improvements.
Kalaniana'ole Highway. One Honolulu-bound lane closed between Castle Medical Center and Kapa'a Quarry Road, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, resurfacing.
Kamehameha Highway. Temporary detour bridge near the Halawa Gate of the Pearl Harbor naval base in operation through July 2006, no U-turns allowed at Halawa Drive. Lane closures between Waiahole Valley Road and Kahana Valley, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, bridge repair work.
Kunia Road. Right Waipahu-bound lane closed between Waipahu Street and Honowai Street, and right Wahiawa lanes between H-1 Freeway and South Kupuna Loop closed, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through Thursday Drainage maintenance.
Likelike Highway. Complete Wilson Tunnel closure in the Honolulu-bound direction, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. through tomorrow, wall cleaning.
Moanalua. Ala Aolani Place and portions of Ala Aolani Street, Ala Lani street and place, Ala Kiao Place, Ala Iolani street and place, Kapulei Street, rehabilitation of streets and Moanalua water system improvements.
Nimitz Highway. Various closures in westbound lanes between Waiakamilo Road and Sumner Street, 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. through tomorrow, pavement striping. One to two Honolulu-bound lanes closed between Sand Island Access Road, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Friday, resurfacing. Single lane closures between Sumner and Queen streets, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, resurfacing. U-turn ramp at Sumner Street closed 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, sidewalk improvements.
Pearl City. Waimano Home Road from Kamehameha Highway to Komo Mai Drive. Roadway repairs.
Pu'uloa Road. Shoulder lanes in both directions from Kamehameha Highway to Salt Lake Boulevard closed 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through tomorrow. Possible lane closures may also occur in both directions along Pu'uloa Road near Kilihau Street, roadway repairs.
Sand Island Access Road. Town-bound lane closures along Sand Island concrete bridge. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Bridge work.
Waialua. Waialua Beach Road, street reconstruction.
Waipahu. Village Park Connector Road, construction of two-way road between Kupuna Loop in Village Park and Loa'a Street. Kahuanani Street, sewer replacement.
Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Correction: The Kapolei Christmas parade that had been scheduled for Saturday has been canceled. Information in a previous version of this column was incorrect.
