A part of this master plan should include measures to limit population density and the number of cars on O'ahu, and to monitor Neighbor Island growth to prevent O'ahu-type traffic problems. The state could provide incentives for businesses to expand or relocate to the other islands that could benefit most from economic growth, such as Moloka'i, Hawai'i or Lana'i.

Another part of the master plan may still include a less expensive light monorail, a ski-lift-type people mover, a moving walkway or other types of systems for the Honolulu-to-Waikiki areas.

Hopefully, this would replace buses, which all too frequently cause traffic snarls during their frequent stops. The cause of these traffic backups are the many bus stops on the main roads that do not have a dedicated off-road bus-stop lane. Immediate action should be to build more off-road lanes at bus stops that don't have one.

In the meantime, the number of bus stops on main traffic roads without off-road lanes could be reduced during the morning and afternoon peak traffic hours. Instead of every block, buses could stop every three to four blocks during these hours.

Let's have a 21st-century master plan for O'ahu's traffic that has numerous benefits for the entire state, instead of a fixed-rail system that would be paid for by many to benefit only a few.

A 20-year statewide transportation master plan of this magnitude, involving billions of dollars from state and federal taxes and the private sector, should require a statewide vote by the people. This unique approach to solving O'ahu's traffic could become world-renowned as the Hawai'i Ocean Super Highway of the Pacific — a planned system that would benefit its people, businesses and tourists alike.

Arnold Dili is a retired social worker who lives in Honolulu.