Light Rail Follies #5: An Objective Panel

The Honolulu city council wants to build a rail line. Yet many people in Honolulu think this would be a waste of money, and they are pushing for high-occupancy toll lanes, that can be used by autos and bus-rapid transit, instead. So, to cover its you-know-what, the city council plans to create an “objective panel” of five advisers who will review the alternatives and select the final plan.

Who will be on the panel? A list of people being considered includes a vice president of Bechtel, a former vice president of Siemens, a former Parsons Brinckerhoff planner, and numerous employees or former employees of various transit agencies, nearly all of which run some form of rail transit.

Among the luminaries on the list is the former chief operating officer of VTA, the nation’s worst-managed transit agency. As noted here just a few days ago, VTA has the worst performing light rail in the nation. Other potential experts include an employee of the Jacksonville transit system, which operates a “skyway” or monorail system that manages to carry 0.93 people per car (or 1.86 people per two-car train).

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The best bus system in America may be in Honolulu.
Flickr photo by duluoz cats.

The sad thing is that Honolulu already has some the highest transit usage in the nation. In 2005 it carried 8.7 percent of commuters to work, more than Portland, San Diego, Denver, or any other urban area that has recently built light-rail transit. It also carries far more trips per capita than any light-rail region. Somehow I doubt that spending billions on an expensive-to-operate rail line is going to help, and it certainly isn’t going to do anything about congestion.

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About The Antiplanner

The Antiplanner is a forester and economist with more than fifty years of experience critiquing government land-use and transportation plans.

4 Responses to Light Rail Follies #5: An Objective Panel

  1. Lorianne says:

    The mayor, Mufi Hanneman, is going to fight tooth and nail for the elevated monorail system (i.e. Hitachi).

    One of his “virtues” appears to be is that when he gets bought he stays bought.

    The elevated monorail will be a monstrosity, as it is in every other city where it sprouts .. Vancouver, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo etc etc.

    We are going to be handing over ten billion taxpayer dollars to Hitachi Corp to create a irreversible blight on our island.

    I am supporter of mass transit when done well, but this a boondoogle and a fruad.

  2. Unowho says:

    A monorail? You’ve got to be kidding. I guess no one got the memo that cities have been tearing down their ELs, not expanding them.

  3. Lorianne says:

    Not only did they not get the memo, the Mayor (and no telling who else in government) has bought into this highly proprietary system well in advance of voting, planning, EIS, etc.

    The mayor and his cabal are hell bent on this elevated monorail. It’s such a bad idea even hard-core mass transit folks are against it!

    That’s why they have to convene this panel of “experts” to override the concerns of, well, nearly everyone but themselves.

  4. Lorianne says:

    American Institute of Architects Rejects Plan for Honolulu’s Proposed Elevated Rail Line

    http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?94c5561c-538f-419f-87b7-0e80f4b6ad00

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