Mass Transit IV: Rail-ien Ressurection

I'm not exactly old, but I've still seen rail transit come up enough times to say, "Here we go again." Lingle recently went out on a limb, proposing a $2.6 billion Kapolei to Iwilei line by 2018. That's one hell of a price tag. Considering we got $800 million in fed funds only to kill a plan in 1992, I'm not holding my breath. Some have pushed for a state excise tax, but that would tax other counties that would see no benefit from the Honolulu project.

I believe in rail, but I also know human nature. Despite recent reports that we're about to cross the one-million-car mark, it will probably take literal all-day gridlock before everyday citizens see the light. Rail? BRT? Toll roads? Punitive taxes? What do we need? And what will we end up with?

Comments

Every time I go to the Bay Area, I come back with BART envy for Honolulu. I catch BART all over The Bay, visiting all number of neighborhoods whenever I am there. (I also experienced a very efficient transportation system in Dallas when I visited there.)

I'd like to see the thing start at Kapolei, with massive, secure parking. Next stop, Pearl City, again with massive, secure parking. Third stop, Aloha Stadium, ditto the parking. One more stop in Kalihi. Next stop, downtown, then continuing to Ala Moana, ending at UH Manoa.

I also imagine a "feeder" small bus system to run through all neighborhoods -- much like the current HandiVans. Smaller, lower-capacity buses that circulate through limited areas, feeding a main bus line on Kamehameha Highway.

The main bus line would have larger buses that ran very frequently, say, every 10 minutes and only shuttled people to and from the train depots.

I imagine the fare system to be a day pass, week pass, month pass, even an annual pass system where regular commuters would get greatly discounted fares and occasional and weekly ticket holders would pay higher prices. (This would tax the tourist segment at a higher rate than resident commuters.)

Oahu residents should pay for it, but fuel is already taxed to the point of ridiculousness. (The recent auto registration hike was stupid as it charged car owners for everyone's police services.)

But taxing vehicles to pay for mass transit would seem to be the sensible thing to do.

I could also see toll roads being implemented. Why not put a toll booth at the entrance to the Zipper Lane and let anyone willing to pay for the privilege use it. Make the price high enough so that it would not appeal to everyone.

Why not build a bridge across the mouth of Pearl Harbor? I know, I know, the Navy would have a fit. So what? They're not the only ones living here. They need to get over it. There's a big, beautiful toll bridge over Coronado Bay in San Diego. The Pearl Harbor bridge would provide massive relief for H-1 "Arterial Sclerosis." And people sick of H-1 and H-2 morning gridlock would pay to use it, gladly, if it took 20 to 30 minutes off their morning commute.

I mean, all of this is my own two cents (or thirty dollars)! But the time is long past for Honolulu to grow up and gain a rail mass-transit system. (I was one of the ones utterly disgusted when Rene Mansho killed our last rail hope at the last possible moment.)

It will cost $2.6 billion now; $800 million then. Inflation. If we wait another 10 years, it will be $60 billion. Then what?

Having a rail system is long over due. The alternatives just aren't working, and the congestion is only going to get worse.

Yes, the price is hefty, but the longer we wait, the higher the price-tag is going to be. If we can look towards the future with long-term-thinking, then not only is the rail system a pressing need, but it's also a bargain and a valuable investment.

I don't think a bridge at the mouth of Pearl Harbor is practical. It's not the Navy that is going throw fits but rather the Aloha and Hawaiian Airline pilots who tend to make an approach around that area and a high bridge would cause them fits.

Perhaps, and this would be a huge mixed-blessing, more rain will hit our island and completely destroy the highway system. Then maybe someone with enough cajones (I'm looking at you Lingle!) could tell everyone to work off their plate lunches by using their legs to get to work while a rail transit system is built.

No? All I know is I've hosted one too many expat' who always manage to comment: Was traffic this bad before I left? This is terrible!

The idea of taxing all the counties in order to fund something that benefits only one county will likely bring up the "State of Honolulu" comments that are prevalent on the neighbor islands. (Notice how the counties/islands outside of O'ahu are referred to as the "neighbors"?) Hmmm.

Unfortunately, O'ahu has always had problems with traffic and excess vehicles. I don't think that it boils down to an "if you build it, they will come" situation. Just because there is alternative transportation doesn't necessarily mean that people will use it or buy less cars.

Whatever happens, I sure hope that it is well planned and fairly implemented. Each of the counties has its own unique issues and budget problems.

I took a graduate class in City Planning at UH while getting my BA in Geography and did a pretty extensive research paper on this in 1991. The time to have gone for it was then (and really, previously, when "Uncle" Fasi was calling for it before).

The "head in the sand" response in 1991/1992, largely based on how "unsightly" it would have been, seems silly when you consider the million car mark mentioned here. When I was last "home" in early 2003, I could really see what a mistake not going with at least the 1992 proposal is/was. Now, you will wait longer and pay MUCH MORE!

The 808 State can no longer afford to wait! (erm, is the area code still universally 808?)

J

Helen,

In Norfolk, Virginia (the largest Navy base in the US), they've placed a tunnel under the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and it seems to work.

Also, the inter-island flights should make more use of 4R (as late-arrival wide-bodies do sometimes at night). An obstruction at the mouth of Pearl Harbor would be more trouble for overseas flights using the ILS approach to 8L. A bridge could be placed near South Avenue and Porter Avenue on Hickam or my aforementioned tunnel idea may work.

J

Sorry for all the responses folks, this issue was important to me at one time:

ali,

the "State of Honolulu" thing is the same in many other areas of the country. How does the rest of New York State feel about subsidizing NYC? Massachussetts subsidizing Boston? etc. etc.

From a tax revenue standpoint, the question is, how much of the FAT COW that is the big city trickles OUT to adjacent counties? I am not familiar enough with state tax revenue apportioning in Hawai'i Nei currently, but I would imagine that money generally flows out to the other counties. When (if) direct flights finally equalize tourist numbers, all the islands may need a transit system (well, not all, but you get my meaning).

I use marta in atlanta and it is a well used mass transit. It seems to be used by all strata of society. the trains are about 3 to 5 min. apart during rush hours. It's intergrated with the bus system. It is inexpensive $1.75 one way and yet Atlantas traffic is like our rush hour times 12 hours a day. I think our mass transit will not solve our traffic problems.

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