City council members discuss mass transit research

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Posted Tuesday, 15 April 2008, 08:59 HST @708

Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Bulletin features an investigation of the Honolulu City Council’s travel expenses for the mass transit project.

Council member Todd Apo had an interesting quote:

“We’re making a huge decision… If people have not made the effort to get themselves fully educated, then I’d be concerned.”

Perhaps Apo was referring to fellow council members Charles Djou and Barbara Marshall. Both Djou and Marshall have argued against the project.

Marshall hasn’t spent a dime on travel related to the proposed project. Is it possible that she hasn’t been on one single trip to study transit systems in other cities?

Thrifty or shifty?

Djou has made several trips but has only charged the city US$26. He paid for his own travel:

“It’s a very expensive project and I’m trying to be careful with taxpayer dollars… These transit trips paid for by the taxpayer and by the transit manufacturers are nothing more than junkets.”

It helps to keep an open mind about these trips. Vendors do want to fund these trips, but that does not mean that council members would be swayed towards their bids.

Yes, the travel expenses could have been used to fill potholes. But common sense dictates that our council members should be studying existing systems that resemble the current proposal. Isn’t that the Council’s job?

Djou recently declared his candidacy for Neil Abercrombie’s congressional seat - in the 2010 election. If Abercrombie needs to go, why doesn’t Djou run now, in 2008? Djou has been plotting this run since 2006. He ran unopposed for reelection, but he still ran political advertisements telling voters to “[r]emember the name, Charles Djou”.

Djou and Marshall need to stop voting “no”, as they risk joining former council member Rene Mansho on Honolulu’s transit hall of shame.

Where the rubber meets the road

Honolulu needs mass transit solutions now. Our city has tried and failed to select a comprehensive fixed guideway solution twice before. In today’s Star-Bulletin, council member Romy Cachola states he may support fixed guideway buses instead of steel-on-steel rail. He also wants construction to start with a segment from Aloha Stadium to downtown, via Salt Lake Boulevard. That’s through his district.

Cachola used his swing vote last year to get the system rerouted away from Honolulu International Airport and through his district. For many taxpayers, this move made no sense. The proposed mass transit system would help tourists and residents get to and from the airport, and avoid high parking fees. Any reasonable proposal that gets more rental cars of the road would be welcome on Oahu.

Cachola is also ranked number 2 among council members in terms of their travel spending for the proposed project. Romy’s op-ed piece this morning is another veiled threat that he may vote “no”, because he is placing his district’s needs ahead of the island’s.

1 response so far ↓

1 billso // Wednesday, 16 April 2008, 09:49 HST @742

According to today’s Honolulu Advertiser, the City Council will try to hold its vote today to decide once and for all what system will be used.

Council chair Barbara Marshall cannot attend the meeting, citing a “family emergency”.

Four council members support rail.

Ann Kobayashi and Donovan Delz Cruz may try to delay the vote until she can attend. They both support buses. No one really knows how Romy will vote.

Without Marshall, there are only 8 voting members , so the vote may be deadlocked if Cachola and Djou vote for buses.

And that means the advisory panel’s recommendation takes effect: steel wheels on steel rails.