Understanding West Maui | Dr. Ryan Tam on Transit, Traffic & a Sustainable Future

#WestMaui #MauiTraffic #SustainableMaui

Dr. Ryan Tam joins interviewer Alaka‘i Lastimado to discuss the future of transportation in West Maui, focusing especially on the potential of light rail as a long-term, sustainable solution to congestion. Drawing on expertise in planning, mobility, and environmental compliance, Dr. Tam explores how West Maui’s traffic challenges intersect with sea level rise, land use, tourism pressures, and the physical constraints of the region’s geography.

The conversation centers on Dr. Tam’s contribution to Thinking About Traffic in West Maui, a volume that brings together experts in transportation, engineering, law, planning, and community organizing to analyze possible solutions—from bike networks and tunneling options to managed retreat and large-scale rail systems.

About the Author:
Ryan Tam was previously the Director of Planning, Environmental Compliance, and Sustainable Mobility at the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He holds a doctorate from MIT. Ryan is a descendant of a Chinese merchant in Makawao, who would spend a whole day or more to haul goods back from Kahului Harbor in the late 1800s—a trip that now takes 20 to 25 minutes by car.

Work Discussed:
Using Light Rail to Shape a More Sustainable Future for West Maui
https://uhpress.hawaii.edu/title/thin...

West Maui Book Series
Edited by Lance D. Collins, PhD, the series supports research and education on the history, culture, land, governance, and planning challenges of West Maui.

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