Surprise! Honolulu Tops L.A. in Traffic Congestion

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has pledged to move forward with alternative transit options last week after a study was released that showed Oahu’s rush-hour traffic is the second worst in the nation.

It came in slightly better than Los Angeles but worse than Washington, D.C., and New York City, according to the Annual Urban Mobility Report by the Texas Transportation Institute.

Honolulu beat Los Angeles for the dubious honor of highest Commuter Stress Index in the nation.

Caldwell — a supporter of the $5.2 billion elevated rail line being constructed on the island — said that “no one solution” will solve the island’s traffic problems

“It is no surprise to anyone who drives Oahu’s freeways and roads that our island has some of the worst traffic in the country,” he said.

“Precious time that could be spent at work or with family and friends is wasted on congested roadways burning fuel, which not only increases our cost of living, it pollutes the air we breathe,” Caldwell added.

Restoring bus services, building better rail systems, improving bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and prioritizing road repaving for car commuters were listed by the mayor as priorities.

“I have also prioritized the design and construction of Oahu’s new Joint Traffic Management Center, which will allow traffic engineers and emergency responders to better manage Oahu’s roadways and traffic flow,” Caldwell said.

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Transportation industry Hawaii
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