6/15/2023 0 Comments Honolulu rail routeOne of the claims by the pro rail group is the promise in a significant reduction in travel time from Kapolei transit center to Downtown. Cayetano also proposed in addition to the BRT and underpass routes, to build a two-lane viaduct above Nimitz Highway to increase the flow of traffic from downtown to the west side. Another significant addition to the bus routes would be another route that runs from Aloha Stadium to down town. This route would be useful because it would help students who take classes at two or more of the colleges listed, plus the additional stops along the new route would add to more busses traveling around town, which could lead to more people using public transportation. So basically it would cover all the colleges in town. There would also a “College Express” that would run through the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu Community college and Hawaii Pacific University. In future thought of his plans Cayetano also proposed an underpass tobe constructed under major streets such as Kapiolani Boulevard, Beretania Street, Kalakaua Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard to increase the flow of traffic through critical areas. The newly implemented westbound Zipperlane would open up the express busses to service Wahiawa, Mililani, Ewa, Kapolei and Waipahu in a timelier manner. The new busses and their routes would take advantage of the eastbound Zipper lane that runs from Kapolei to downtown and the newly constructed west bound Zipper lane. The estimated amount of thirty-six additional busses would need to be added to these routes to make the plan effective. The Bus Rapid Transit system would call for eight more BRT or express bus routes including the pre-mentioned Route C County Express. If we had gone with Cayetano’s plan in the first place not only would we save money initially but the citizens of Honolulu would also reap the benefits sooner. Cayetano also said “unlike heavy rail, which will take ten or more years to complete, Honolulu commuters will see traffic congestion reduced by our FAST program within six months”. This means Cayetano’s option is one fifth the price of the rail, which means we could take one fifth of the risk of building the rail. Cayetano argued that his FAST plan would cost about $1.1 billion instead of the estimated $5.3 billion rail transit system. This proposal would contain the addition of BRT or Bus Rapid Transit routes and contained a plethora of changes to the current transportation system. He suggested the implication of his FAST program or Flexible Affordable Smart Transportation system. Cayetano’s main purpose was to stop the building of the rail and proposed his own solution to the traffic problem on Oahu. This measly two percent equals about 40,000 auto trips, which is not even close to making a significant dent.įormer Governor Ben Cayetano is one of the many public proponents to the current rail transit system. The decrease in percentage of auto trips on Oahu would only decrease from a projected 23 percent to 21 percent. Population growth is one of the many inevitable causes of increased traffic that the rail will not be able to fix because the rail cannot control the rate at which the population grows. But does the cost outweigh the benefits? Or are there other transportation options that are cheaper and still get the same or better results for relieving the traffic crisis on Oahu than the proposed rail system? I do acknowledge the pro rail arguments such as the rail transit system will reduce traffic congestion, the rail will be a faster mode of transportation, and the rail will be “green” and economically friendly and will provide local jobs. Like all debates every issue has its pros and cons and the debate over the rail transit system is no different. I understand that the city has already started construction on the rail, but if we pause the construction now and save that money we might be able to come up with a better solution. I argue that the effectiveness of the elevated rail system is not worth the amount of 5.3 billion dollars, instead of going through with the building of the rail we should pause the construction to reconsider other cost efficient viable options for relieving the traffic problem on Oahu. This essay is from an anti-rail point of view, but with tasteful respect towards anyone who is pro rail and informative to those who are undecided. There are basically three groups of people/audience that I considered while writing this essay they are the pro rail, anti rail and undecided. The debate over the Honolulu Rail Transit system is easily one of Hawaii’s major controversial issues because the decision whether or not to build the rail will affect all of Hawaii’s citizens and visitors.
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