September, 1981 Home   Newsletters

October, 1981

November, 1981

Highways Are the Issue!
President's Message (Barbara Farwell)
Stand Up and Be Counted
Have You Heard?
What Is Title IX Awareness Week?
October Calendar
Status Offenders in the Juvenile Justice System
Viewpoint: Planning and Development (Romayne Karl)
Orientation Coffee a Success
Membership
We're Looking for Talent

Highways Are the Issue!

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF A HIGHWAY ON A COMMUNITY?

SHOULD KALANIANAOLE HIGHWAY BE WIDENED?

WHERE DOES THE LEAGUE STAND ON H-3?

OCTOBER 19 thru 23
(see Units Calendar, page 4)

THE FIRST UNIT MEETINGS OF THE YEAR WILL DISCUSS THESE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

* Read the background information on the last page of this Voter

* Take the tear-out to your Unit Meeting *Think about, talk about the issues

* Share your reactions at the Unit Meeting

Highways are the Issue!

(take to the unit meeting)

What is the League's transportation position? Should it be updated? Can the League speak out? What can we say about highways and public transportation issues?

Following is the LWVUS position on transportation. How can we apply it in Honolulu?

  • Federal aid for highway construction should be reduced.

  • Cities must have the opportunity to plan and adequately finance integrated transportation systems of their own choice.

  • The Highway Trust Fund should be restructured so that cities and states may use the fund to build whatever form of ground transit they find necessary.

  • Alternative forms of transportation such as trains, buses, moving sidewalks, bicycles, and street cars must be developed into comprehensive transit systems for our cities.

  • Transportation systems dependent on public financing should be publicly controlled.

  • Transportation should be considered a public service whose operating costs are subsidized as are operating costs of all public services.

  • Transportation planning and construction must weigh all social and environmental costs.

  • Continuous and widespread community participation must be insured throughout the planning, development and operation of any transit program.

The Hawaii State Plan, passed in 1978, set goals which include those to halt urban sprawl, preserve and conserve open space, enhance and protect the environment, and uplift the quality of life. Guidelines relating to transportation include:

to provide a transportation system in harmony with the Hawaiian life style and the environment,

to alleviate environmental degradation caused by motor vehicles, and to decrease environmental pollution which degrades a community.

The State Plan is intended to interlace with the Counties' general plans.

Oahu's General Plan, adopted in 1977, and the pending Development Plans are guidelines for shaping the island's growth. Population increases are to first occur in the Primary Urban Core (PUC). Then the Ewa area will begin to absorb the population and its housing needs. Central Oahu is the third area designated for expanded growth. Transportation facilities -- roads, bus service, and other systems -- will be needed to serve the home-to-work needs as these areas increase their population.

Honolulu League's position on transportation has stressed the public transit aspect, but the following are some of our highway related statements:

  • Planning for highways should be in coordination with the General Plan and the effect on the community should be the major criterion for the decision to build.

  • The transportation system itself has an impact on the future growth of the community.

  • Crowing auto traffic uses scarce energy, pollutes the air and is expensive, congests streets and highways, and wastes time.

  • Building more and more streets, highways or freeways is expensive, causes inconvenience, and does not in the long run reduce traffic congestion.

  • Transportation guides growth; therefore, planning and zoning should determine the need for transportation facilities.

  • Highway construction should be reduced as a way or curtailing suburban development at the expense of the central urban areas, higher air pollution, and increased energy consumption.

Following are several statements which will be part of unit discussions. What is your reaction to them? Think of them in terms of League's positions and how they mesh with state and county plans.

  • Highways tend to encourage continued automobile use and deter governments from seeking other alternatives for moving people and goods.

  • Transportation needs of a proposed development should be addressed prior to development.

  • A criterion used for determining whether to build or not to build a highway should be how it will be compatible with the proposed growth of the area served by that highway.

Come and share your reactions. It's been a few years since we've talked about highways, and the Transportation Committee hopes to not only provide information and answer questions but also get a sense of how members may feel about specific highway issues. This will also guide us in applying our position.

Highways are the Issue!


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