Much has been said about Honolulu’s proposed rail transit system, and as we get closer to the general election, I suppose the noise will be growing on both sides of the fence. But I want to throw in my two cents.
I support rail because:
1) We need an alternative to more roads and more cars - another way to get around.
2) Transit oriented development works. Livable, walkable communities spring up around rail systems. More freeways create more suburban growth and spawn more freeways.
3) With our tourist industry hit hard in this economic slump, this project will create lots of jobs for a long time, bring in outside Federal money, and re-circulate our excise tax dollars back into our economy. Look up Great Depression and Hoover Dam.
4) Unlike other alternatives like HOT lanes, rail will remove cars from the road, instead of promoting more cars on the road. This means that even if you don’t live along the rail route, you will benefit by having less cars on the road competing for parking and downtown road space. Economics 101 says that over time, more car lanes will PROMOTE more cars flowing into the urban core, which will create more demands on surface streets in Honolulu. True, less traffic on the West Oahu commute, but more traffic once you get into downtown.
The noise from the stop rail people is interesting. People who have never been the tree hugger type are suddenly screaming about how ugly it will look. People who have never been sympathetic to Hawaiian causes are now crying about how rail will disturb Hawaiian iwi. It’s interesting how alliances form for political reasons as witnessed by Ann Kobayashi’s flip-flop on rail (come on, she didn’t flip flop, she is simply groveling for Panos’ voters…and to think, she didn’t tell Duke she was running for mayor so he could take her council seat.)
Now, I’m no engineering professor or retired jeweler, but here are some of their points and my counterpoints:
1) “There are cheaper alternatives to rail that will improve traffic for less.” I agree this is probably true. But, this issue is not only about traffic. It’s about jobs, it’s about planned growth, it’s about starting to move away from the notion of one-man one-car birth rights, it’s about alternative futures.
2) “The elevated rail will look ugly.” Funny, some of the same people who say this want to build a double decker freeway in Honolulu. Personally, I don’t think cars sitting in gridlock on a freeway are very pretty either.
3) “Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is the devil for pushing this project; it’s all about paying off his cronies and unions.” Funny, this mayor is picking up the ball that was started back in the 60’s when the first studies for Honolulu transportation were commissioned. Different mayors, different studies, millions of dollars later, all agree that Rail is the way to go. Rail was not Mufi’s idea. If the other guys get to build their double decker freeway, I suppose they’re going to use non-union labor.
4) “Nobody will ride this.” Funny, I hear this argument largely coming from the older, established, well off people in upper class East Honolulu or Windward. Life is good when you’re retired and don’t have to commute. I’ve seen the Stop Rail sign wavers on the Pali; they’re all over 60. Is it possible your grandchildren won’t feel as entitled to driving as you do? Just maybe we could be so lucky. Just maybe, your grandchildren would rather text than call, just maybe…they won’t think the same way about public transportation as you do. Just maybe times will change. Just maybe rail is about your grandchildren and NOT about you.
5) “We can’t fill in potholes or fix leaking sewers, we won’t be able to support rail.” Using this logic, let’s just stop building anything. No more new road or sewers…forever!
6) “Rail will promote crime and graffiti.” Last I checked, we don’t have rail now, but we still have crime and graffiti. In fact, long ago we created a system where we gather criminals together so that they can meet and form alliances - it’s called a prison. If rail promotes criminal activity, using the anti rail logic, let’s just do away with the prison system because it encourages criminal activity as well.
7) “The cost for rail will double by the time it’s done - the city will go bankrupt.” I’m glad we can predict the future with such certainty! If the cost will get more over time, we’d better start building NOW. I’m no economist, but let me see… our tax dollars pay for this thing, a large part of which goes back into our local economy, which collects taxes to pay for it…. sounds downright gloomy let’s run for the hills.
“The proposed rail route doesn’t go to UH or Waikiki or the airport.” But, it does go from West Oahu to Waipahu, Pearl City, the Stadium, Downtown and Ala Moana - and you can bet that if you don’t build that part first, you can’t add on the airport, UH or Waikiki later. You got to start somewhere. And hey, if someone doesn’t buy a few vans or busses and starts offering a non-stop shuttle between Ala Moana to Waikiki, or to UH, or to Punahou School, etc… to carry rail riders to their final destination, maybe I will.
9) “Panos is an engineer, and Slater is a retired jeweler; they say rail will be bad for Honolulu.” There are always experts on both sides of every issue. In stocks, one stock broker is convinced a stock will go down and wants to sell; at the same time another stock expert thinks the stock will rise and tries to buy. Is Panos correct and every other city engineer wrong? Maybe he should “educate” us all! Heck, Slater IS a retired jeweler, maybe they’re on to something…the brainwashed majority needs to be fixed!
10) “I don’t live near it, so I won’t ride it and I don’t want to pay for it.” Counterpoint…. well you got me here. I can’t disagree with this statement as this is a valid opinion. But this reminds me of a story…just other day I had to break up a fight between my kids. The two year old took a toy belonging the five year old. He ripped the toy out of her hands and said “that’s mine, she can’t use it, and I don’t want her to play with it.” I couldn’t really disagree with this statement either, even though I think it’s very selfish. Sharing is needed to be a part of a family…and a community. I can excuse my son because he’s five, what’s your excuse?
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