TRANSIT

OTHER CITIES MUST BE LAUGHING AT HONOLULU

Its inability to decide on the route or the mode for mass transit indicates that the City Council is either incompetent, afraid to offend interest groups or is playing off against big money. Perhaps all three.

Apparently, prospective passenger load is secondary to getting a transit system.

Instead, maybe a neutral route should be picked, such as the Windward side. It would be cheaper to build there since most land is government-owned, and when built, it would operate more efficiently as it could coast down the mountain. Windward commuters would use it, and the tourists would love the Ko'olau and ocean views, and probably would pay dearly.

The politicos could say they have a transit system, just not a "mass" one. Kidding aside, you can bet other cities around the country are laughing when they read about how ours is governed.

OBVIOUS ADVANTAGES FOR AIRPORT RAIL STOP

I was greatly dismayed to learn that the City Council would even consider building the elevated transit system without the stop at the airport. It's the only stop I would find useful, since it has already eliminated the University of Hawai'i-Manoa stop.

It would be the same terrible mistake Miami made when it failed to connect its elevated rail system to the Miami International Airport. The northern leg of the Miami system has never had sufficient paying ridership to fund itself or the proposed Miami beach extension. Does this sound familiar?

The advantage of an airport stop is obvious to travelers who live in East Honolulu.

It would be much simpler to get on the train at the Ala Moana station and get off at the airport rather than fight traffic to get there. It would save time and gas, and would reduce the number of cars on the H-1 Freeway.

A stop at the airport also could ease traffic congestion and parking problems at the airport.

It also would allow arriving passengers to leave the airport on the train and get to other stations where they could easily be picked up.

Reinstate the airport stop!

WHAT KIND OF NOISE WILL RAIL SYSTEM CAUSE?

The City Council amended Mayor Mufi Hannemann's proposal, which had routed the first leg of the mass transit system from Kapolei to Ala Moana via Pearl Harbor and the airport. The council decided to nix Pearl Harbor and the airport, and instead take the fixed guideway through Salt Lake

This is good news, because I live in Foster Village, off Salt Lake Boulevard, and this area is densely populated.

What concerns me right now is the technology. Whether it's rail or bus, will there be a lot of noise for residences along the fixed guideway?

The subways in New York City are extremely noisy because the trains run on tracks. Will there be noise and vibrations from a monorail in Honolulu?

NOTE TO OFFICIALS: RIDE ONLY BUSES FOR A WEEK

So, city officials are going to distant cities to experience public transportation that might work in Honolulu. Good for them.

When was the last time any one of them set foot on the transit system already in place right here in their own community?

Before making any more decisions on public transportation for island residents, I challenge these decisionmakers — especially our mayor — to take a week riding TheBus as if they had no private vehicles.

Take TheBus to everything: work, school, meetings, grocery shopping, medical appointments, the mall, family and other social gatherings — everything.

And don't just take it in the city, take a ride out to the country, too, where buses are fewer and farther between, and most stops are ill-kept, poorly lit, and have no shelter or benches for the many schoolchildren, elderly and disabled who make up a good percentage of riders.

Only then will they be able to truly experience public transportation on this island and be able to make proper decisions that work for those residents and taxpayers who actually do depend on TheBus for transportation 24/7. Any takers?

CITY COUNCIL RIGHT TO CHOOSE SALT LAKE ROUTE

All the complaints about the transit route through Salt Lake are hogwash. The City Council chose the right route.

Just because many people work in Pearl Harbor, Hickam and the airport does not translate into ridership. These people already have free or low-cost parking, and will not use the transit system. The only people likely to use the transit system are the enlisted personnel and people without a car.

I have traveled to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas, and never once even considered using any other transportation besides a taxi or a large-capacity limousine from the airport.

I am a retired person on fixed income and live in the Salt Lake area.

SALT LAKE RAIL ROUTE WILL EASE RUSH HOURS

I commend the City Council for doing the right thing in selecting Salt Lake over the airport.

Please don't forget how the rail came about in the first place. The everyday congestion is primarily during the get-the-kids-to-and-from-school and people-to-and-from-work periods of time.

The congestion is primarily in the arteries serving the "Second City" and Central O'ahu areas. Wasn't the staggered start-of-school-year system rammed down parents' throats in the hope that this would help the traffic system?

Tourists have many taxis to pick them up and drop them and their luggage off at their hotels or the airport.

An airport rail route will not alleviate the mess in the morning or after work.

Though I don't live in the Leeward or Central O'ahu areas, I've supported the rail because I feel for the people suffering through years of freeway gridlock.

As a Realtor, I've had to practically double the amount of time allotted for the showings on Fort Weaver Road. That's another story.

SALT LAKE ALIGNMENT IS FAR SUPERIOR TO AIRPORT ROUTE

There were three proposals for the minimum operable segment at the last City Council meeting:

1. UH-West O'ahu to Ala Moana via the airport.

2. Fort Weaver Road to UH via the airport (version A)

3. UH-West O'ahu to UH via Salt Lake Boulevard (version B)

All three were rejected, leading to a version C, with an MOS from UH-West O'ahu to Ala Moana via Salt Lake Boulevard.

Why Salt Lake Boulevard?