The City of Honolulu was so anxious to start construction of its $5 billion rail line before voters could elect an anti-rail mayor that it began without completing the legally required archeological surveys. Only about a quarter of the surveys have been done, and the rest won’t be completed before the end of the year. As a result, the state Supreme Court has put a stop to construction until those surveys are done.
The city argues that delaying construction will simply make the rail line even more expensive. But that’s what happens when you fail to comply with a law that, no doubt, rail advocates would have eagerly used to delay any new highway construction.
As University of Hawaii engineer Panos Prevedouros notes, costs have already nearly doubled from estimates made in 2002. Mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano, who won a plurality but not quite a majority in the recent primary, argues that improving the bus system would do more to provide mobility at a far lower cost.
That sounds like Clackastan, (AKA Clackamas county in Oregon.)
They rushed a construction bond sale (to give $$ to Trimet) before a vote of the people on light rail.
Turns out they were supposed to give a 60 day notice.
But that is OK because they claim the bonds aren’t really bonds!
The court is scheduled to hear the issue Tuesday (today).
Thanks
JK
This has nothing to do with transportation throughout Oahu. If you look at the layout of the route of the train, it’s entirely south facing and orbits around Pearl Harbor. So for 5 billion+ dollars, residents of northern Oahu get nothing. Residents of the west and east get nothing.
Panos Prevedouros is the president of the Hawaii highway lobby and no mention of henchman Cliff Slater?
Another nail in the coffin. Nevada last year pushed the envelope being first to permit driverless cars in the state. California has followed suit. Now that the largest car owning state in the country has pushed forward, how long until it’s high-speed rail agenda is completely abandoned.
http://inhabitat.com/california-passes-a-bill-that-would-approve-self-driving-cars-on-the-roads/
the highwayman Reply:
September 4th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
You’re right, that is another nail in the coffin for truck drivers.
irandom Reply:
September 5th, 2012 at 1:33 am
I don’t think that would affect any truck drivers. Intercity delivery trucks spend all their time waiting and semi drivers have to worry about gears, double clutching and rpm. If you’ve watched Top Gear ever, they complain about computer shifting as breaking your neck.
the highwayman Reply:
September 5th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
So shouldn’t we now doubt robotic cars for the same issues too?
“But that’s what happens when you fail to comply with a law…”
The government is not bound to obey its own laws. Do as I say, not as I do.
the highwayman Reply:
September 23rd, 2012 at 9:30 pm
So in the private sector companies don’t always obey their own policies either.