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Project Funding Background |
The Waikiki Livable Community Project (WLCP) is a federally funded planning
study conducted through a grant that was obtained from the Federal Highway
Administration's (FHWA) Transportation and Community and System Preservation
Pilot Program (TCSP). Federal funding for the project is also through the Oahu
Metropolitan Planning Organization (OMPO). The TCSP is a nationwide program
that provides cities and communities with grants to improve transportation
efficiency, reduce transportation impacts on the environment, and minimize the
need for costly future public infrastructure investments.
Waikiki is a very unique area in Honolulu. The transportation system in Waikiki
serves visitors, businesses, workers and residents. Consequently, a wide variety of
vehicle modes compete for space on Waikiki's streets. These modes include
private automobiles, public transit buses, tour buses, taxis, delivery vans and trucks,
bicycles, mopeds, and even rental electric vehicles. Equal in importance to the
street network is the pedestrian sidewalk network. Every day, thousands of
pedestrians walk to shops, restaurants, the beach, and other attractions in Waikiki.
The WLCP study represents an opportunity to examine how Waikiki's system of
public streets, sidewalks, and rights-of-way are used and, how the system might
be improved. The study takes this broad view of transportation in seeking ways to
make Waikiki a more livable community.
The WLCP study emphasizes a community-based effort for soliciting input on
issues, options and opportunites from a broad spectrum of Waikiki. This spectrum
has included Waikiki residents and stakeholders. The balancing of views from
diverse interests and groups in coming up with ideas and concepts has been a
challenge. However, the WLCP has tried to find ways to integrate the ideas of the
past and introducting new ideas and concepts for charting a unique vision of
Waikiki.
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