Posted on: Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Even 'no build' option will cost hundreds of millions
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
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DATA ON DVD
The city has released a DVD that describes the alternatives analysis and project. For copies, visit www.honolulutransit.org or call 566-2299. The city said the public will be able to read the report and view the DVD on the Web by Nov. 6. To see the opposing viewpoint from longtime Honolulu rail critic Cliff Slater, go to www.honolulutraffic.com.
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City engineers and Mayor Mufi Hannemann said a transit system is needed now and will be needed even more over the next 25 years, when O'ahu's population is projected to grow by 250,000.
Yesterday, after announcing that the city was recommending a fixed guideway, or rail, option, Hannemann emphasized that even the so-called "no build" alternative would result in hundreds of millions of dollars in new costs.
Here's a breakdown of the four options and what the alternatives analysis found:
No Build: Includes new highway facilities and committed transportation projects scheduled to be operational by 2030 with $700 million in bus replacement costs; the No Build option also maintains the current service quality of Ho-nolulu's bus system.
Transportation System Management: Improve the bus system at a cost of $900 million in bus replacement and system expansion costs; expand the Zipper lane hours of operation and make some capital improvements to roadways to give priority to buses.
Managed Lane: Build a two-lane highway viaduct as a toll road. The two-lane, grade-separated facility would be constructed between Waipahu and downtown Honolulu. This option would include $1 billion in bus replacement and system expansion, and $2.5 billion for construction. Multi-occupant vehicles would have priority, with excess capacity sold at variable toll costs to multi- and single-occupant vehicles.
Fixed Guideway: Construct and operate a fixed guideway transit system. The alternatives analysis contains a recommendation on mode and alignment (route), but does not specify a technology. Two possible routes are included: a 20-mile alignment that would run from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center for $3.6 billion, and a 28-mile alignment from Kapolei to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa for $4.6 billion.
Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
