HONOLULU — Tasked with developing an overall transportation plan and allocating federal funds toward Oahu transportation goals, the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization is encouraging residents to fill out a public survey that will inform an update to the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan 2050.

What You Need To Know

  • The 15-minute interactive public survey will help state and local transportation agencies understand how you most prefer to get around your neighborhood and the island

  • Deadline to take part in the survey and get your voice heard is August 31

  • Hawaii Department of Transportation states, “Community engagement is essential to ensuring that investments in future transportation projects reflect Oahu residents’ and visitors’ needs as well as match with the unique character of our neighborhoods”

The 15-minute interactive public survey will help state and local transportation agencies understand how you most prefer to get around your neighborhood and the island whether it’s by walking, biking, driving or taking a bus or train. The deadline to take part in the survey and get your voice heard is August 31.

The Oahu Regional Transportation Plan 2050 outlines transportation goals, objectives, policies and projects while taking into consideration forecasted population housing, employment, environmental, land-use and technology changes. Its goal is to develop an integrated, inter-modal, surface transportation system that opens the way for safe, efficient and economical movement of people and goods.

The plan also looks at highway, transit, freight, bicycle and pedestrian projects designed to improve safety, lessen congestion and increase mobility of Oahu’s residents and visitors.

Federal law requires that all urban areas in the United States have a Metropolitan Planning Organization to receive federal transportation funds. The federally mandated and locally designated Oahu MPO is where local officials select projects to be carried out using federal funds. In this way, the MPO sets the policy and guides the region’s transportation planning process.

In its news release the Hawaii Department of Transportation states, “Community engagement is essential to ensuring that investments in future transportation projects reflect Oahu residents’ and visitors’ needs as well as match with the unique character of our neighborhoods.”

To learn more, provide feedback, subscribe to a mailing list and to receive project updates, people are encouraged to sign up on the Oahu MPO website.

If you have questions or comments on the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan or require special accommodations to take part in the survey, contact Samantha Lara at 808-587-2015.

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.