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Kobayashi's last-minute bus-system plan is unrealistic
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 16, 2008
THE ISSUEMayoral candidate Ann Kobayashi has proposed a new version of a bus system instead of the city's planned rail transit system.
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IN a home-stretch desperation move in Honolulu's mayoral race, candidate Ann Kobayashi is proposing a system she calls "rubber tire on concrete," a euphemism for buses and cars traveling on a new set of roads. The proposal is intended to block Mayor Mufi Hannemann's plans for a rail system with little chance that a different system would receive federal support.
In the mayoral preliminary election last month, City Councilwoman Kobayashi proposed a bus-based system while candidate Panos D. Prevedouros, a University of Hawaii engineering professor, proposed managed traffic lanes. Kobayashi's new proposal is a hybrid of the two visions.
The proposal is aimed at drawing in the November runoff a coalition of supporters in the preliminary election of both Kobayashi and Prevedouros, the lone dissenter in an expert panel that opted for rail. Together, they gained enough votes in the September election to come within striking distance of Hannemann's vote total.
Kobayashi proposes a partly elevated, reversible "guideway" stretching 15 miles from the H-1 and H-2 merger in Waipio to downtown Honolulu, with "underpasses," or mini-tunnels, on Alakea and Halekauwila streets downtown. Access would be restricted to buses and vehicles with at least three occupants.
Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., said earlier this year that Honolulu's planned rail system "stands well ahead" of any other public transportation being considered by the House Transportation Committee, of which he is chairman. Hannemann is confident of $900 million in federal funding for the system, estimated to cost $4 billion.
A radical change at this point would undoubtedly jeopardize federal funding, especially during the nation's current economic meltdown. Not only is Kobayashi wrong in assuming that revenue from the general excise tax surcharge could be spent on her plan, her hope for $2.4 billion in federal funding to foot nearly the entire bill is preposterous.
Kobayashi has criticized the rail system, saying it would take a commuter 26 stops and an hour of traveling time to go from Kapolei to downtown. However, the rail plan's engineers say it will take only 39 minutes to travel the entire line from Kapolei to Ala Moana, which will include 19 stops.
The November ballot includes a proposed City Charter amendment that would give the city transportation director the authority to go ahead with the "steel-wheel-on-steel-rail transit system" plans that have been proceeding with broad public support. Polls show that 60 percent of registered voters favor the rail system.
If voters reject the amendment, Kobayashi will have an opportunity to more fully explain her latest proposal but with nearly impossible prospects for its acceptance. Federal officials who have reviewed one Honolulu transit proposal after another for two decades will undoubtedly say money is unavailable for yet another version.
THE ISSUEMayoral candidate Ann Kobayashi has proposed a new version of a bus system instead of the city's planned rail transit system. |
IN a home-stretch desperation move in Honolulu's mayoral race, candidate Ann Kobayashi is proposing a system she calls "rubber tire on concrete," a euphemism for buses and cars traveling on a new set of roads. The proposal is intended to block Mayor Mufi Hannemann's plans for a rail system with little chance that a different system would receive federal support.
In the mayoral preliminary election last month, City Councilwoman Kobayashi proposed a bus-based system while candidate Panos D. Prevedouros, a University of Hawaii engineering professor, proposed managed traffic lanes. Kobayashi's new proposal is a hybrid of the two visions.
The proposal is aimed at drawing in the November runoff a coalition of supporters in the preliminary election of both Kobayashi and Prevedouros, the lone dissenter in an expert panel that opted for rail. Together, they gained enough votes in the September election to come within striking distance of Hannemann's vote total.
Kobayashi proposes a partly elevated, reversible "guideway" stretching 15 miles from the H-1 and H-2 merger in Waipio to downtown Honolulu, with "underpasses," or mini-tunnels, on Alakea and Halekauwila streets downtown. Access would be restricted to buses and vehicles with at least three occupants.
Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., said earlier this year that Honolulu's planned rail system "stands well ahead" of any other public transportation being considered by the House Transportation Committee, of which he is chairman. Hannemann is confident of $900 million in federal funding for the system, estimated to cost $4 billion.
A radical change at this point would undoubtedly jeopardize federal funding, especially during the nation's current economic meltdown. Not only is Kobayashi wrong in assuming that revenue from the general excise tax surcharge could be spent on her plan, her hope for $2.4 billion in federal funding to foot nearly the entire bill is preposterous.
Kobayashi has criticized the rail system, saying it would take a commuter 26 stops and an hour of traveling time to go from Kapolei to downtown. However, the rail plan's engineers say it will take only 39 minutes to travel the entire line from Kapolei to Ala Moana, which will include 19 stops.
The November ballot includes a proposed City Charter amendment that would give the city transportation director the authority to go ahead with the "steel-wheel-on-steel-rail transit system" plans that have been proceeding with broad public support. Polls show that 60 percent of registered voters favor the rail system.
If voters reject the amendment, Kobayashi will have an opportunity to more fully explain her latest proposal but with nearly impossible prospects for its acceptance. Federal officials who have reviewed one Honolulu transit proposal after another for two decades will undoubtedly say money is unavailable for yet another version.
Today’s Edition
- Friends and associates join search for missing kayaker
- Legislators cancel party plans
- Teachers willing to return for restored furlough days
- Harbor officials eye fee increase
- Mammograms: Do I really need this?
- Thanksgiving Day events serve food to those in need
- Kokua Line: Insurance verification uses Social Security info
- Newswatch
- Police and Fire
- Australia's move on credit card fees may have lessons for U.S.
- At Iraqi museum, Google chief announces plan to put artifacts online
- Kona holiday fundraiser helps culinary students
- By Request: Help others and collect the year's best recipes
- The Electric Kitchen: Desserts offer options to usual pumpkin pie
- Pet Ohana
- Da Kine
- Got nutrients?
- Wahine advance to WAC final
- Medeiros catches on at slot
- Prep World: Jamora ready for Govs
- Prep World: Athletes of the Week
- Prep briefs
- Say and Look have Aiea and 'Iolani talking, watching wins
- Cincinnati rolls through Maryland at Maui Invitational
- Couples will play in Hawaii
- Local aces
- Hawaii Beat
- Scoreboard
- TV & Radio
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