My opinions and rants–no political correctness or liberal bullshit here!

the aia local chapter, some landowners, governor lingle and others believe that the proposed rail system should run at street level in east kapolei and downtown honolulu. they believe that it will achieve two things: save money on construction costs and prevent the obstruction of ocean views in those locations. i have several issues with their rationale, from a common sense standpoint.

rail that runs at grade completely defeats the entire purpose of having a commuter rail system in the city of honolulu in the first place. at-grade rail will have to stop at the same stoplights and battle with the same traffic that cars and buses do, resulting in long travel times between destinations. who will ride rail if it’s slow and gets stuck in traffic?

rail at grade not only increases travel times, but it also will compound vehicle traffic to such a high degree, just by its own presence. in order to place rail tracks at grade, valuable and scarce vehicle lanes will have to be sacrificed to make room for these tracks. we all know how traffic comes to an absolute standstill when there’s road construction and one lane of traffic is coned off in either direction, right? now imagine that on a permanent basis. solving one problem will be creating another much bigger one.

at-grade rail is also an accident waiting to happen. collisions between trains and vehicles/pedestrians are well documented and it just puts citizens in danger as well as opens the city up to enormous lawsuits. just imagine a train packed with hundreds of riders, none of whom are buckled down, plowing into a 35 ton tractor trailer that stalled in the middle of an intersection. the results would be catastrophic, and nobody wants that to even be a possibility.

i disagree with the argument that an elevated rail guideway will block ocean views while at-grade rail won’t. just think about the two areas that they’re proposing at-grade rail for: downtown and east kapolei. in downtown, the rail line will be surrounded by 400-foot skyscrapers, and the elevated guideway will be what, 50 feet off the ground? how will that block ocean views more than a skyscraper? should we knock down all the skyscrapers so everything is only one story high? what about east kapolei? there are no ocean views to begin with! the whole ewa plain is flat, so if your neighbor builds a one story house you won’t be able to see past it anyway, let alone see the ocean. so for crying out loud it’s a total non-issue and sounds more like a desperate reach at any fringe reason to put a halt to or stall the project further.

an elevated guideway for the entire length of the route is the best alternative, which is why it was voted on and selected by the city council in 2005 after analyzing all the alternatives. and they’re no dummies, they’ve been studying honolulu rail for four freaking decades! the general public also voted and the majority of citizens agreed that an elevted rail guideway is the best solution for honolulu. yes, it costs more, but why pay billions of dollars for a system that will move slowly and create danger to the public, when we can pay billions of dollars for a system that is quick, efficient, safe and minimizes the amount of surface real estate that needs to be sacrificed? what is the best long-term decision for honolulu?

i think the answer is simple: an elevated rail guideway is the common-sense solution.

Whether train system is worth building hangs on variety of issues

By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer

Rail proponents and opponents don’t agree on much when it comes to assessing the costs and benefits of Honolulu’s planned elevated commuter train.

In fact, about the only thing they agree on is that the other side is misleading the public about key facets of the public transit project.

That leaves residents the task of sorting through numerous, often conflicting claims about the impacts of rail ahead of a key Nov. 4 vote that will dictate the project’s future.

The basis for much of the city’s evidence supporting rail comes from the November 2006 Alternatives Analysis, which was prepared by transportation engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff. The report determined that a train reduced traffic congestion and increased public transit ridership more than managed highway lanes. A new elevated highway also would cost more to build and operate in the long term, according to the $10 million study.

Stop Rail Now, which has not done a comparable study, contends the city did not conduct a rigorous, good-faith analysis of the managed-lane option. Stop Rail Now contends its analysis shows that a new elevated freeway and bus rapid transit system from Waiawa to Iwilei would cost less to build and operate than a train.

There are numerous points of contention between city officials and Stop Rail Now. Their disputes surround a range of rail-related issues including costs, traffic impacts, energy efficiency, federal funding, noise and ridership.

Here’s an assessment of those issues:

Issue: Traffic congestion

What the city says: Rail will reduce future traffic congestion.

What Stop Rail Now says: Traffic will be far worse in the future with rail.

The facts: Both statements are factual. That’s because the project, which would link East Kapolei to Ala Moana, will help take more autos off the road, but will not prevent traffic from worsening in the future. According to the Alternatives Analysis, the initial 20-mile rail system will reduce peak-period vehicle hours of delay by 11 percent in 2030 compared with a so-called “no build” scenario.

The same study found that even with the transit system, there will be an estimated 57 percent increase in traffic on H-1 during the morning rush hour in 2030 compared with 2003. If the transit system were not built but a few improvements were made to the freeway and bus system, traffic would increase by 64 percent by 2030.

Issue: Project costs

What the city says: The initial 20-mile segment will cost $3.7 billion — an amount that includes an added $1 billion for contingencies. The full alignment from West Kapolei to Waikiki is estimated at about $5 billion, according to the Alternatives Analysis. That includes a shortened $350 million spur from the Honolulu International Airport to Middle Street, which was necessitated by a main route that now runs through Salt Lake.

Those figures, which are in 2006 dollars, were based on recent large-scale O’ahu construction projects and U.S. Navy construction cost data for Hawai’i. They will be updated in an upcoming draft environmental impact statement.

What Stop Rail Now says: The full rail project will cost $6.4 billion. The group bases its figure on the estimated construction costs of Honolulu’s failed 1992 rail project. Those costs were adjusted up for inflation and to provide a 33 percent allowance for contingencies.

The facts: No one knows for sure how much the rail system will cost. Recent events including a nationwide credit crunch and a slowing Hawai’i economy only add to the uncertainty.

If history is any indication, train projects tend to cost more than anticipated during their Alternatives Analysis phase. Recently built rail systems, on average, experienced 40 percent cost overruns, according to an April report by the Federal Transit Administration. The agency analyzed 21 federally subsidized train projects that began operations since 2000. Some of those increases were driven by changes in scope of the projects.

The city contends Honolulu’s project won’t go over budget because the FTA now requires cities to create more stringent cost estimates.

Issue: Energy efficiency

What the city says: Modern rail is energy efficient and environment friendly.

What Stop Rail Now says: Modern rail transit is less energy efficient than autos.

The facts: Whether rail is more energy efficient and reduces air pollution hinges on factors such as ridership and the fuel used to generate electricity.

A full train uses less energy per passenger mile than an auto with one occupant. On average, rail transit requires less energy per passenger mile than autos, according to the Department of Energy. However, because of differences in routes, train technology and other factors, the energy intensity of heavy rail systems varies substantially from city to city. In some cases rail systems are less energy efficient than the average auto, in part because trains run all day often with fewer passengers in off hours and in the opposite direction of rush-hour traffic.

Issue: Property taxes

What the city says: The initial 20-mile rail system can be subsidized without any increase in property taxes. The city’s current financial plan only accounts for construction of the initial 20-mile East Kapolei to Ala Moana segment. No funds have been set aside for spurs to Waikiki, the University of Hawai’i-Manoa, the airport and West Kapolei.

What Stop Rail Now says: The city will need to raise property taxes more than 40 percent to pay for the full 28-mile rail system. The group claims the total system will cost $7.5 billion in 2006 dollars including cost overruns.

The facts: Honolulu taxpayers are expected to bear about $3 billion of the project’s costs via a half-percentage point excise tax surcharge that expires in 2022. They could be asked to pay more, if the project is over budget or if tax collections don’t meet expectations. In that case the two major potential sources for tax revenues are the city’s property tax and the state excise tax.

The city may ultimately need to rely on added tax revenues if the 20-mile segment is over budget, or if the city opts to proceed with the construction of spurs to Waikiki, the UH-Manoa, the airport and West Kapolei. However, just how much added money the city will need depends on the level of future transit tax collections and the amount of cost overruns, if any. That means it’s impossible to gauge how much property taxes would need to be raised in such a circumstance.

Issue: General excise taxes

What the city says: The financial plan for rail is prudent and conforms with strict federal requirements.

What Stop Rail Now says: The financial plan relies on unrealistic excise tax estimates.

The facts: Whether transit tax collections are sufficient to pay for the train depends in large part on whether the state’s current downturn lasts a year or two or becomes a prolonged 1990s-style economic slowdown.

Plunging visitor arrivals and slumping real estate and construction sectors are forcing the state to reduce tax collection forecasts. City officials acknowledge that near-term transit tax collections could be lower than predicted. However, the city hopes that any near-term revenue shortfall could be offset by an economic rebound in future years. Additionally, a slower economy could result in lower labor costs.

Issue: Federal funding

What the city says: Federal Transit Administration and Congressional officials have almost guaranteed city officials that they will receive $700 million to $948 million (in 2006 dollars) in federal funds to help pay for the project.

What Stop Rail Now says: The federal government won’t provide that money to Honolulu.

The facts: Officially, FTA officials have said it’s too early to tell whether Honolulu will get federal funds or to determine how much those funds might be. However, Honolulu is in a strong position to attract federal money because the city plans to pay the majority of the project’s costs.

Still, Honolulu isn’t expected to find out for sure how much federal funding it will get until 2011.

Meanwhile, the city plans to start construction on the East Kapolei to Waipahu segment in December 2009. The city has argued that a faster timetable will help reduce costs while allowing limited service to launch in late 2012. Critics contend the city’s timetable is not realistic and could result in a major burden for local taxpayers, if federal funds don’t come through as planned.

Issue: Noise

What the city says: Modern rail is quiet.

What Stop Rail Now says: Steel-wheel-on-steel-rail trains are an environmental blight. A Vancouver, Canada, train, which is similar to the system planned for Honolulu, generates 79 decibels of noise at a distance of 50 feet, according to the group.

The facts: Just how noisy the train will seem depends on a variety of factors including who manufactures the trains and the level of existing ambient noise in a community and the frequency of noise. Modern trains generate 72 decibels to 80 decibels of noise at a distance of 50 feet, according to the city. Generally, 75 decibels equates to the noise made by a vacuum cleaner at five feet, or a jet flying 5,000 feet overhead.

That’s less noisy than a city bus, which generates a maximum of 83 decibels at 50 feet of distance, according to the city. However, trains will operate at a higher frequency than the typical bus route. Trains will operate at a frequency of about 400 times a day from 4 a.m. to midnight.

Issue: Ridership

What the city says: A train, when combined with TheBus, will increase overall mass-transit ridership to 7.4 percent of total transit trips in 2030, up from 6.1 percent projected if the commuter rail line is not built. That’s a 21 percent increase.

What Stop Rail Now says: Train ridership will not meet expectations because people will continue to prefer driving their autos to work.

The facts: High gasoline prices coupled with newer, faster train systems are helping boost the popularity of public transit. However, in Honolulu, public transit ridership gains overall have not kept pace with population increases.

In addition, ridership on new federally subsidized trains, on average, is lower than anticipated, according to an April report by the FTA. The study found that 19 recently opened federally subsidized train projects are expected to carry, on average, 74.5 percent of their originally forecast ridership.

Honolulu city officials contend the FTA now is requiring cities to create more stringent ridership estimates. That means Honolulu’s project should meet or exceed ridership estimates, according to the city.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.

Very interesting perspective by Jay Leno…I hope you will all read to the end. Jay Leno puts it into perspective and makes us think about the pathetic negativity. That’s right, Jay Leno!!

Jay Leno wrote this; it’s the Jay Leno we don’t often see….

“The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3’s of the citizenry just ain’t happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ”What are we so unhappy about?”  Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the  Atlantic Ocean  without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents.  Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy. Fact is we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the  U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don’t have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating?

Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession?  Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?  Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much , make you so unhappy you couldn’t take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it…are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the “Media” told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in  Iraq  and  Afghanistan  have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn’t have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ”general” discharge, an ”other than honorable” discharge or, worst case scenario, a ”dishonorable” discharge after a few days in the brig..

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?  Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by “justifying” them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about “how he didn’t kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way”…Insane!

Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11?

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day or at least be thankful and appreciative.

“With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, “Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?”

Jay Leno

in case you haven’t heard, “stuff white people like” by christian lander is the hottest blog on the internet today. it’s full of hilarious (and predictable) stereotypes of white people and what they like in terms of their lifestyle. although it tends to lean more urban/yuppie/granola, it still does encompass the vast majority of white people. here is the full list of blog posts from that site. it is highly recommended that you check them out!

• #97 Scarves
• #96 New Balance Shoes
• #95 Rugby
• #94 Free Healthcare
• #93 Music Piracy
• #92 Book Deals
• #91 San Francisco
• #90 Dinner Parties
• #89 St. Patrick’s Day
• #88 Having Gay Friends
• #87 Outdoor Performance Clothes
• #86 Shorts
• #85 The Wire
• #84 T-Shirts
• #83 Bad Memories of High School
• #82 Hating Corporations
• #81 Graduate School
  
• #80 The Idea of Soccer
• #79 Modern Furniture
• #78 Multilingual Children
• #77 Musical Comedy
• #76 Bottles of Water
• #75 Threatening to Move to Canada
• #74 Oscar Parties
• #73 Gentrification
• #72 Study Abroad
• #71 Being the only white person around
• #70 Difficult Breakups
• #69 Mos Def
• #68 Michel Gondry
• #67 Standing Still at Concerts
• #66 Divorce
• #65 Co-Ed Sports
• #64 Recycling
• #63 Expensive Sandwiches
• #62 Knowing What’s Best for Poor People
• #61 Bicycles
• #60 Toyota Prius
• #59 Natural Medicine
• #58 Japan
• #57 Juno
• #56 Lawyers
• #55 Apologies
• #54 Kitchen Gadgets
• #53 Dogs
• #52 Sarah Silverman
• #51 Living by the Water
• #50 Irony
• #49 Vintage
• #48 Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops
• #47 Arts Degrees
• #46 The Sunday New York Times
• #45 Asian Fusion Food
• #44 Public Radio
• #43 Plays
• #42 Sushi
• #41 Indie Music
• #40 Apple Products
• #39 Netflix
• #38 Arrested Development
• #37 Renovations
• #36 Breakfast Places
• #35 The Daily Show/Colbert Report
• #34 Architecture
• #33 Marijuana
• #32 Vegan/Vegetarianism
• #31 Snowboarding
• #30 Wrigley Field
• #29 80s Night
• #28 Not having a TV
• #27 Marathons
• #26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!)
• #25 David Sedaris
• #24 Wine
• #23 Microbreweries
• #22 Having Two Last Names
• #21 Writers Workshops
• #20 Being an expert on YOUR culture
• #19 Traveling
• #18 Awareness
• #17 Hating their Parents
• #16 Gifted Children
• #15 Yoga
• #14 Having Black Friends
• #13 Tea
• #12 Non-Profit Organizations
• #11 Asian Girls
• #10 Wes Anderson Movies
• #9 Making you feel bad about not going outside
• #8 Barack Obama
• #7 Diversity
• #6 Organic Food
• #5 Farmer’s Markets
• #4 Assists
• #3 Film Festivals
• #2 Religions their parents don’t belong to
• #1 Coffee

this has got to be the funniest music video of all time: