Light Rail coming to Honolulu

[gmat]

from the StarAvertiser:

Bombardier Transportation; Unsuccessful rail bidder seeks reconsideration.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/128864353.html

 

Rail board to consider Bunda to fill 10th seat

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Rail_board_to_consider_Bunda_to_fill_10th_seat.html

 

From KITV.com:

Former Lawmaker Bunda Picked For Transit Board

http://www.kitv.com/r/29055213/detail.html

 

From Yes2rail:

Op Ed on the Aug.21 commentary by the anti-rail group.

More Anti-Railer Obfuscation on TheBus vs Train; Where’s Credibility after the Misrepresentations?

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

 

The Honolulu City Beat article quoted above:

Rail Foes Decry 'Hatchet Job' Fact Checks - Part 1

http://www.civilbeat.com/posts/2011/09/01/12711-rail-foes-decry-hatchet-job-fact-checks-part-1/

 

FACT CHECK — Rail Opponents: City Has Yet To Identify 10,000 Promised Jobs

http://www.civilbeat.com/fact_checks/2011/08/29/12677-fact-check-rail-opponents-city-has-yet-to-identify-10000-promised-jobs/

 

 

From Pacific Business News:

Elevated rail project leads Oahu in wrong direction

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/08/26/elevated-rail-project-leads-oahu-in.html

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/08/26/elevated-rail-project-leads-oahu-in.html?page=2

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/08/26/elevated-rail-project-leads-oahu-in.html?page=3

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/08/26/elevated-rail-project-leads-oahu-in.html?page=4

 

From PBN biz blog

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2011/08/honolulu-rail-transit-project-takes.html

Honolulu rail transit project takes some hits

 

 

From the anti-rail news:

http://www.honolulutraffic.com/

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

I hate to depend on a Pro-rail site for news.

 

From Yes2rail;

Quartet Gets Defensive after Critics Find Too Many False Notes in Material

and

Mayor Blasts Anti-Railers for ‘Misleading’ Public;

Critic Calls Civil Beat’s Fact Check a ‘Hatchet Job’

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

I hate to depend on a Pro-rail site for news.

 

But you cannot really depend on any one source- the anti-rail forces are often ideologically motivated, but mask their arguments in a cloak of "fiscal responsibility" (their pet term is "boondoggle"), while the newspaper reports, often penned by reporters who can't differentiate between a steam locomotive and an LRV ("they're all choo-choos"), should just report the facts, but are often influenced by the biases of their editorial staff, or more likely, the biases of their conglomerate owners, who tend to be conservative.

 

IMO, the best sites for news and perspective are independent blogs focusing on transport, who by their nature tend to be pro-rail, but any tendencies towards cheerleading and ideological bent are tempered by the engineering/technical knowledge the contributors often possess (these individuals are termed "technicals" by transport/urbanist blogger Alon Levy).

[Mudkip Orange]

Having sparred extensively with Alon under a different pseudonym, I have mad respect for the guy.

 

Yonah Freemark at The Transport Politic is another that's always worth reading.

[gmat]

Not much today;

 

Anti-rail speakers appeared on the local Hawaii PBS radio station, causing a number of articles in response in Yes2rail.

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

 

This is the last entry.

Show’s Transcript Reveals Motivations: Opponents Want Faster Motoring, Not Faster Public Transit

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/09/close-read-of-shows-transcript-reveals.html

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

From Pacific Business News:

 

Bombardier files new appeal of Honolulu rail contract

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2011/10/14/bombardier-filed-new-appeal-of.html

 

Latest Honolulu rail cost projection is $143M less

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/10/latest-honolulu-rail-cost-projection.html

 

Honolulu rail plans 232 archaeological digs

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/09/honolulu-rail-plans-232-archaeological.html

 

From the Examiner, using local reporting:

 

http://www.examiner.com/rail-in-honolulu

 

Honolulu Rail Transit, What say you?

http://www.examiner.com/small-business-in-honolulu/honolulu-rail-transit-what-say-you

 

Some recent news at Yes2rail:

 

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

 

From Honolulu RailTransit, Latest news updates:

http://www.honolulutransit.org/rhs/media-center/news-releases.aspx

 

The StarAdvertiser had some recent news, but you have to pay to get access.

 

 

 

From the other side:

 

http://www.honolulutraffic.com/

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

Recent news:

Rail contractor Ansaldo settles state licensing complaints

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/132369233.html

 

 

Honolulu Rail Won't Improve Traffic, Council Member Admits

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/honolulu-rail-wont-improve-traffic-council-member-admits-occupy-honolulu-movement-is-leaderless-but-getting-organized-in-time-for-apec-conference/123

 

 

Honolulu Rail Opponents Have No Case, Feds Say

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/08/14/12504-honolulu-rail-opponents-have-no-case-feds-say/

 

Rail At The Airport: Investigation In 3 Parts

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/10/20/13346-rail-at-the-airport-investigation-in-3-parts/

 

Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

Parsons Brinckerhoff + Ansaldo= not a good combination in some people's eyes.  Both have spotty reputations in California.

[gmat]

City to ask Kalihi, downtown residents about rail

 

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/132416773.html

 

Rail map showing the location of the proposed stations.

http://www.honolulutransit.org/rail-system-guide/explore-the-route.aspx

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[Mudkip Orange]

What has PB done wrong other than be associated with projects that Republicans and Lowenthal really, really don't like?

[gmat]

Court fight may decide if rail stays on track

 

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20111120_Court_fight_may_decide_if_rail_stays_on_track.html?id=134200388

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

Questions about the financial health of Ansaldo Breda.  It appears its parent company, which is incurring losses, will sell it off:

 

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Perhaps the whole thing comes down to honor.  The city gave its word when it picked Ansaldo Honolulu Joint Venture and despite pressure the interim executive director isn't breaking his promise.

 

The Honolulu rail board heard testimony from residents and received a new letter from the city council urging a delay in signing the transit's core systems contract.  This as Ansaldo Honolulu's parent company Finmeccanica announced a billion dollar loss last quarter and plans to sell off more than a billion dollars in assets.  It's also partially owned by the Italian government which is facing default.

 

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16069601/hart-to-delay-14-billion-ansaldo-contract

[gmat]

The Outdoor Circle is a long time influential citizen's group who traditionally have tried to preserve the beauty of Hawaii's scenery. They are the reason that Hawaii does not have large billboards.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/11/Outdoor-Circle-opposes-Honolulu-rail.html

 

Concerns about cost, service footprint and the selection process have lead to more criticism of the Rail Project.

 

The arguments recently posted by Yes2Rail are not very persuasive, unfortunately.

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

 

From the other side.

http://www.honolulutraffic.com/

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[to2leo]

Without reading all the news articles, I thought Hawaii already has a good bus system?  Didn't it won some APTA transit award?  Also, given the terrain, why don't they just invest into BRT or even fast ferry?

[gmat]

Some recent Honolulu Rail news:

 

Challenge to Honolulu Rail Project Goes to Federal Court

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/challenge-to-honolulu-rail-project-goes-to-federal-court/123

 

HART Will Delay Ansaldo Contract

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/17/13934-hart-will-delay-ansaldo-contract/

 

Ansaldo CEO says company financially solid

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16123008/signing-delayed-for-oahu-rail-transit

 

What Convinced Honolulu Rail Officials That Ansaldo Could Do The Job?

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/25/14018-what-convinced-honolulu-rail-officials-that-ansaldo-could-do-the-job/

 

HART Panel Quizzes Ansaldo on Firm’s Stability, Finds ‘No Red Flags’ To Block Contract Signing

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/11/hart-panel-quizzes-ansaldo-on-firms.html

 

Open Letter to Outdoor Circle Members: Some of You Oppose Rail, but Have You Weighed Impacts vs Benefits? Unless Your Life Is Impacted Daily by Congestion, You Can’t Appreciate Traffic’s Costs

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/11/open-letter-to-outdoor-circle-members.html

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

to2leo,

This is in answer to your question about the Bus System on Hawaii, and why it might not easily be expanded to meet the needs of Oahu's traffic problem.

 

Read this first:

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/hawaii/a/destroying.htm

 

Honolulu traffic, youtube:

 

Traffic in hawaii really sucks!

 

Photos of the Freeway system on Oahu. Understand that 25 years ago, when I lived on Oahu, it was nothing to see a solid mass of red tail lights on H1 going at high speed downtown leaving the City at 12 midnight. It has gotten much worse since then:

http://www.hawaiihighways.com/photos-Interstate-H1.htm

 

Photo of congested H1. Scroll down to the bottom and also read his comments:

http://www.tsblogs.com/newstradamus/2008/03/

 

 

The problem is getting off the highway system, either downtown or at the western and northern ends of H1 and H2, so even if TheBus has separate bus lanes, (shared with carpool lanes) it still must slow down and wait to exit the highway. Once you try to exit the highways, there are no large roads to easily contain and disperse the flow of traffic coming off the highway. All of the exits lead to stoplights within 100 meters or less with no alternate routes to go around the lights. It is the same with the exits leading off H1 going to West (Kapolei/Waianae)and H2 going Northwest. (Wahiawa/Mililani) here the exits directly lead into subdivisions/residential areas with reduced speed limits.

 

You can sort of get the idea of how geography creates choke points that make adding additional highways expensive and difficult.

Relief Maps of Oahu.

http://mappery.com/Oahu-3D-Map

 

http://sherwinhawaiimapsspot.blogspot.com/2010/06/june-23-2010-1st-blog-3-interesting.html

 

http://www.raisedreliefmaps.com/details.mgi?Code=0016

 

One thing not brought up is Hawaii can ill afford to build extra highways on its own. The current H1, H2 and H3 were largely funded by the Federal Government to expedite movement between the military bases on Oahu and Pearl Harbor/Hickam AFB to support deployments in emergencies. I believe that the best way to have access to Federal monies is in the current fiscal crisis is a Mass Transit system.

 

Sen. Inouye is the best bet to steer funds Hawaii's way, but he will not remain in Washington forever and if the Republicans gain control of the Senate and White House, can you say Massachusetts under Nixon?

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

HART signs rail contract with Ansaldo

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2011/11/28/hart-signs-rail-contract-with-ansaldo.html

 

Honolulu signs rail contract with Italian company

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/nov/28/bc-hi-honolulu-rail/?business&business-wire

 

 

Clock Ticking on $510M in Honolulu Rail Funding

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/29/14057-clock-ticking-on-510m-in-honolulu-rail-funding/

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

Recent news.

 

Honolulu rail eligible for $510M in federal funding next year

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16149190/honolulu-rail-eligible-for-510m-in-federal-funding-next-year

 

Rail Eligible for $510 Million In 2012

http://www.kitv.com/r/29883487/detail.html

 

Similar information here, but uses granted versus eligible.

Federal Funding Granted For Honolulu Rail Transit Project

http://www.railroad.net/federal-funding-granted-for-honolulu-rail-transit-project-401.html

 

Pro-rail site.

New Media’ May Have Its Place, but Don’t Expect To Find ‘Balance’ and ‘Objectivity’ There, too

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-media-have-their-place-but-dont.html

 

Top Ironic News of the Day: Traffic-Stuck Drivers Hear Radio Host Blast Signing of Rail Contract; What If Honolulu Had a DeeJay Who Liked Rail?

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/11/top-ironic-news-of-day-traffic-stuck.html

 

Conservative news site.

Battle Escalates Over the Future of Honolulu's Proposed Multi Billion Dollar Rail

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/battle-over-the-future-of-honolulus-proposed-rail-escalates/123/comment-page-1

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

Yes2rail has a couple of new articles.

 

Enlarging TheBus Fleet and Making Rides Free Would Do Nothing To ‘Solve’ Congestion Problem

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/increasing-number-of-buses-making-rides.html'>http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/increasing-number-of-buses-making-rides.html

 

LTE (letters to the editor) Forum Covers Both Sides of Rail Issue, but Focusing on Opposition Seems More Productive

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/lte-forum-covers-both-sides-of-rail.html'>http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/lte-forum-covers-both-sides-of-rail.html

 

More on new LTE feature. Scroll down a bit.

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

 

From StarAdvertiser. Need to log in/pay to read further.

"The city is considering a batch of engineering changes to the $5.17 billion Honolulu rail project, including a proposal to reduce the size of the stations and the length of the trains that would operate on the elevated rail system.

Login for more..."

http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=135013683

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[Mudkip Orange]

including a proposal to reduce the size of the stations and the length of the trains that would operate on the elevated rail system.

 

Well gee... that's not shortsighted or anything.

[gmat]

From StarAdvertiser. You must pay to read the rest.

Honor bound

A plan to free keep rail stations free of pay barriers is designed for efficiency, but relies on rider honesty and effective enforcement

http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=135399473

 

Stop rail to save Oahu's natural beauty

http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=135397603

 

HART makes good case for Ansaldo deal

http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=135397558

 

Recent news. Yes2Rail

Sun. Dec. 11

Friends of the Outdoors, How Big Is Your Circle? Broader Vision in the 21st Century Could Win Friends, Save Human Lives as Well as Trees

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/friends-of-outdoors-how-big-is-your.html

 

Fri. Dec. 9

Giving ‘The Tampa Look’ a Second Look; Is This What Environmentalists Say Is Better than Rail?

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/giving-tampa-look-second-look-is-this.html

 

Thurs. Dec. 8

Media Roundup: Congestion, More Lanes on H-1, Rail Maintenance and Tampa’s ‘Aircraft Carrier’

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/media-roundup-congestion-more-lanes-on.html

 

Tues. Dec. 6

HART: Ansaldo Contract Oversight Is Top Priority; LTE Forum: ‘Free’ Bus Service Isn’t Really ‘Free’

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/hart-ansaldo-contract-oversight-is-top.html

 

Best wishes.

Grant

[gmat]

The news recently has been rather sparse and not promising for the rail project.

 

From the StarAdvertiser, you have to pay to read it;

Rail costs low-balled, consultant says.

A former Los Angeles transit official also warns that ridership forecasts are too high.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=137338873

 

From Yes2Rail;

Anti-Railers Import ‘Hired Gun’ To Attack Project; Long Anti-Transit History Undermines Credibility

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2012/01/anti-railers-import-hired-gun-to-attack.html

 

From Pacific Business News; Short articles with not much meat.

Feds say Honolulu rail plan needs more financial muscle

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2011/12/feds-say-honolulu-rail-plan-needs-more.html

 

Pacific Resource Partnership seeks to intervene in Honolulu rail lawsuit

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2012/01/03/pacific-resource-partnership-seeks-to.html

 

Honolulu rail board approves $2.79B spending plan

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/12/honolulu-rail-board-approves-279b.html

 

The Examiner.com gathers reports from an eclectic range of writers;

http://www.examiner.com/rail-in-honolulu

 

 

Some earlier news.

From Honolulu Civil Beat;

What Convinced Honolulu Rail Officials That Ansaldo Could Do The Job?

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/25/14018-what-convinced-honolulu-rail-officials-that-ansaldo-could-do-the-job/

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

Not much recent News. Former Governor Ben Cayetano, who opposes the rail project is running for Honolulu City Mayor.

 

From the StarAdvertiser;

Honolulu given go-ahead to begin heavy construction on rail

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/138815984.html?id=138815984

 

Older NYT article;

After 40-Year Battle, Train May Roll for Oahu

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/us/hawaii-train-line-is-likely-to-rise-on-oahu.html

 

From Hawaii Reporter;

City Proposes $450 Million Line of Credit for Rail Project;

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/house-speaker-no-disrespect-bill-not-targeted-at-any-one-individual-city-proposes-450-million-line-of-credit-for-rail-project-hearing-on-controversial-undersea-cable-will-be-held-in-senate-tod/123

 

Pritchett's Pen: Honolulu Rail Transit Cattle Car

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/pritchetts-pen-honolulu-rail-transit-cattle-car/123

 

Recent News from Honolulutraffic.com;

It's final: Traffic congestion will be worse with rail:

 

It's final: Rail would not be more energy efficient than your car:

 

Star Advertiser story — the city learns about change orders for rail:

http://www.honolulutraffic.com/

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

God, the ignorance displayed by the anti-rail forces in America.  I must lose a few points of IQ just by reading some of their drivel.

[gmat]

Democrat ex-Governor Ben Cayetano decision to run continues to spark interest. Reminds me of the late ex-Mayor Frank Fasi who ultimately switched to the Republican party. Thanks in part to him mass transport in Hawaii has been stymied since the 70s.

 

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

 

Articles from most recent;

 

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Week in Review: Poll Says Rail Support Has Fallen, But Flawed Question, Timing Erode Its Credibility; Call for Serious Transit Discussion Went Nowhere

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2012/02/week-in-review-poll-says-rail-support.html

 

Cayetano Cuts Civil Beat From Campaign Media List

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/17/14912-cayetano-cuts-civil-beat-from-campaign-media-list/

 

From Hawaii Reporter;

Poll: Honolulu Rail Support Falls

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/poll-honolulu-rail-support-falls/123

 

Link to StarAdvertiser article via The Hawaii Reporter;

Rail support falls

http://www.honolulutraffic.com/Rail_support_falls.pdf

 

Politics connected to the project;

SHOPO endorses Caldwell for Honolulu mayor, expresses concern over rail

http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/SHOPO-endorses-Caldwell-for-Honolulu-mayor/clNueZ1--02tMOp37yJuuw.cspx

 

Same news from the StarAdvertiser;

SHOPO endorses Caldwell for mayor

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/139325833.html

 

From Hawaii News Now;

SHOPO endorses Caldwell for Honolulu Mayor

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16935225/shopo-endorses-caldwell-for-honolulu-mayor

 

A couple from Honolulu Civil Beat on the same topic;

SHOPO: Carlisle Didn’t Even Call

http://honolulu.politics.government.blogs.civilbeat.com/post/17618651678/shopo-carlisle-didnt-even-call

 

SHOPO To Endorse Caldwell Today

http://honolulu.politics.government.blogs.civilbeat.com/post/17616475565/shopo-to-endorse-caldwell-today

 

Money approved for the Rail;

U.S. Transportation Secretary recommends $250 Million toward Honolulu’s rail project

http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/U-S-Transportation-Secretary-recommends-250/2OuvV2Bd2EKTR_VgzMsomQ.cspx

 

Also from Honolulu Civil Beat. Local political fight could affect disbursement of Federal Funds.

FTA Watching Opponents, Wants $250M for Honolulu Rail

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/14/14883-fta-watching-opponents-wants-250m-for-honolulu-rail/

 

From Honolulu Civil Beat. Examining statements made by Cayetano;

Just How Deep Will Honolulu Rail's Debt Be?

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/13/14855-just-how-deep-will-honolulu-rails-debt-be/

 

From Hawaii Business News on the selection process for top job candidate.

Honolulu rail authority mum on top job candidates

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2012/02/honolulu-rail-authority-mum-on-top-job.html

 

Interesting op/ed from Honolulu Civil Beat. Some of the comments are also interesting.

Time to Get Serious About Rail Conversation

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/16/14903-time-to-get-serious-about-rail-conversation/

 

 

Best wishes,

Grant