About 40,000 university and private school students are heading back to class.
The City modified some bus routes to and from Manoa campus, and the state widened a portion of the H-1 Freeway through town and changed its Zipper Lane requirements.
But on Monday these changes will stand up against the true test.
There was some confusion Sunday at the bus stops fronting UH Manoa because several key routes were modified.
The City says they adjusted bus routes 2, 4, 13, 18 and 24 to better link Waikiki, KCC and UH.
But on Monday as UH goes back into session, an influx of student riders are expected.
"There’s going to be people lost, traveling places they don’t need to be, because they dont know where they’re going," said UH student Lena Yim. "I expect it to be hectic, I expect it to be crazy."
That’s what many drivers are expecting it to look like on the roadways as well.
"Tomorrow, I’m anticipating the worst," says Kuliouou resident Skylar Tokumine.
To help increase traffic flow through town, the state added an extra lane on the H-1 Freeway between the Pali Highway and Punahou Street.
While some expressed concerns of the lanes being narrow and dangerous, others are pleased.
"It probably shaved off 30 minutes of my commute coming back home," Tokumine says. "So hopefully that won’t change with UH going into session."
And drivers expressed mixed reaction over the state’s decision to reduce the ridership requirements of the Zipper Lane and Nimitz Contraflow lane from three people per car to two.
The picture on the left shows the Zipper Lane at three people per car, the picture on the right shows last week’s change of two people per car.
"I like that because there’s usually two of us in the car, but then again, the Zipper Lane is going to have more traffic," said Ileana Tuimalealiiafano of Ewa Beach.
The DOT says they made the change because the Zipper Lane was operating at half its capacity.
Those who carpool or ride the bus, say there are now no benefits for choosing to do so.
"I think that was wrong, they should have left it at three," says Salt Lake resident Tony Baldomero.
Despite whether the city and state’s changes work or not, most are just happy that something is being done.
"Anything to lessen traffic here in Hawaii is going to be awesome," said Porsha Blanton of Fort Shafter.
Starting Monday, the City and State will also take a one-week hiatus from major road construction project to give us all time to adjust to the additional traffic on the roadways.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
