Light Rail coming to Honolulu

[gmat]

from the StarAvertiser:
Bombardier Transportation; Unsuccessful rail bidder seeks reconsideration.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/128864353.html

Rail board to consider Bunda to fill 10th seat
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/Rail_board_to_consider_Bunda_to_fill_10th_seat.html

From KITV.com:
Former Lawmaker Bunda Picked For Transit Board
http://www.kitv.com/r/29055213/detail.html

From Yes2rail:
Op Ed on the Aug.21 commentary by the anti-rail group.
More Anti-Railer Obfuscation on TheBus vs Train; Where’s Credibility after the Misrepresentations?
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

The Honolulu City Beat article quoted above:
Rail Foes Decry 'Hatchet Job' Fact Checks - Part 1
http://www.civilbeat.com/posts/2011/09/01/12711-rail-foes-decry-hatchet-job-fact-checks-part-1/

FACT CHECK — Rail Opponents: City Has Yet To Identify 10,000 Promised Jobs
http://www.civilbeat.com/fact_checks/2011/08/29/12677-fact-check-rail-opponents-city-has-yet-to-identify-10000-promised-jobs/


From Pacific Business News:
Elevated rail project leads Oahu in wrong direction
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/08/26/elevated-rail-project-leads-oahu-in.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/08/26/elevated-rail-project-leads-oahu-in.html?page=2
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/08/26/elevated-rail-project-leads-oahu-in.html?page=3
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/print-edition/2011/08/26/elevated-rail-project-leads-oahu-in.html?page=4

From PBN biz blog
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2011/08/honolulu-rail-transit-project-takes.html
Honolulu rail transit project takes some hits


From the anti-rail news:
http://www.honolulutraffic.com/

Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

I hate to depend on a Pro-rail site for news.

From Yes2rail;
Quartet Gets Defensive after Critics Find Too Many False Notes in Material
and
Mayor Blasts Anti-Railers for ‘Misleading’ Public;
Critic Calls Civil Beat’s Fact Check a ‘Hatchet Job’
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

Best wishes,
Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

I hate to depend on a Pro-rail site for news.

But you cannot really depend on any one source- the anti-rail forces are often ideologically motivated, but mask their arguments in a cloak of "fiscal responsibility" (their pet term is "boondoggle"), while the newspaper reports, often penned by reporters who can't differentiate between a steam locomotive and an LRV ("they're all choo-choos"), should just report the facts, but are often influenced by the biases of their editorial staff, or more likely, the biases of their conglomerate owners, who tend to be conservative.

IMO, the best sites for news and perspective are independent blogs focusing on transport, who by their nature tend to be pro-rail, but any tendencies towards cheerleading and ideological bent are tempered by the engineering/technical knowledge the contributors often possess (these individuals are termed "technicals" by transport/urbanist blogger Alon Levy).

[Mudkip Orange]

Having sparred extensively with Alon under a different pseudonym, I have mad respect for the guy.

Yonah Freemark at The Transport Politic is another that's always worth reading.

[gmat]

Not much today;

Anti-rail speakers appeared on the local Hawaii PBS radio station, causing a number of articles in response in Yes2rail.
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

This is the last entry.
Show’s Transcript Reveals Motivations: Opponents Want Faster Motoring, Not Faster Public Transit
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/09/close-read-of-shows-transcript-reveals.html

Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

From Pacific Business News:

Bombardier files new appeal of Honolulu rail contract
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2011/10/14/bombardier-filed-new-appeal-of.html

Latest Honolulu rail cost projection is $143M less
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/10/latest-honolulu-rail-cost-projection.html

Honolulu rail plans 232 archaeological digs
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/09/honolulu-rail-plans-232-archaeological.html

From the Examiner, using local reporting:

http://www.examiner.com/rail-in-honolulu

Honolulu Rail Transit, What say you?
http://www.examiner.com/small-business-in-honolulu/honolulu-rail-transit-what-say-you

Some recent news at Yes2rail:

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

From Honolulu RailTransit, Latest news updates:
http://www.honolulutransit.org/rhs/media-center/news-releases.aspx

The StarAdvertiser had some recent news, but you have to pay to get access.



From the other side:

http://www.honolulutraffic.com/

Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

Recent news:
Rail contractor Ansaldo settles state licensing complaints
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/132369233.html


Honolulu Rail Won't Improve Traffic, Council Member Admits
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/honolulu-rail-wont-improve-traffic-council-member-admits-occupy-honolulu-movement-is-leaderless-but-getting-organized-in-time-for-apec-conference/123


Honolulu Rail Opponents Have No Case, Feds Say
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/08/14/12504-honolulu-rail-opponents-have-no-case-feds-say/

Rail At The Airport: Investigation In 3 Parts
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/10/20/13346-rail-at-the-airport-investigation-in-3-parts/

Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

Parsons Brinckerhoff + Ansaldo= not a good combination in some people's eyes.  Both have spotty reputations in California.

[gmat]

City to ask Kalihi, downtown residents about rail

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/132416773.html

Rail map showing the location of the proposed stations.
http://www.honolulutransit.org/rail-system-guide/explore-the-route.aspx

Best wishes,
Grant

[Mudkip Orange]

What has PB done wrong other than be associated with projects that Republicans and Lowenthal really, really don't like?

[gmat]

Court fight may decide if rail stays on track

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20111120_Court_fight_may_decide_if_rail_stays_on_track.html?id=134200388

Best wishes,
Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

Questions about the financial health of Ansaldo Breda.  It appears its parent company, which is incurring losses, will sell it off:

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Perhaps the whole thing comes down to honor.  The city gave its word when it picked Ansaldo Honolulu Joint Venture and despite pressure the interim executive director isn't breaking his promise.

The Honolulu rail board heard testimony from residents and received a new letter from the city council urging a delay in signing the transit's core systems contract.  This as Ansaldo Honolulu's parent company Finmeccanica announced a billion dollar loss last quarter and plans to sell off more than a billion dollars in assets.  It's also partially owned by the Italian government which is facing default.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16069601/hart-to-delay-14-billion-ansaldo-contract

[gmat]

The Outdoor Circle is a long time influential citizen's group who traditionally have tried to preserve the beauty of Hawaii's scenery. They are the reason that Hawaii does not have large billboards.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/11/Outdoor-Circle-opposes-Honolulu-rail.html

Concerns about cost, service footprint and the selection process have lead to more criticism of the Rail Project.

The arguments recently posted by Yes2Rail are not very persuasive, unfortunately.
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

From the other side.
http://www.honolulutraffic.com/

Best wishes,
Grant

[to2leo]

Without reading all the news articles, I thought Hawaii already has a good bus system?  Didn't it won some APTA transit award?  Also, given the terrain, why don't they just invest into BRT or even fast ferry?

[gmat]

Some recent Honolulu Rail news:

Challenge to Honolulu Rail Project Goes to Federal Court
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/challenge-to-honolulu-rail-project-goes-to-federal-court/123

HART Will Delay Ansaldo Contract
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/17/13934-hart-will-delay-ansaldo-contract/

Ansaldo CEO says company financially solid
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16123008/signing-delayed-for-oahu-rail-transit

What Convinced Honolulu Rail Officials That Ansaldo Could Do The Job?
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/25/14018-what-convinced-honolulu-rail-officials-that-ansaldo-could-do-the-job/

HART Panel Quizzes Ansaldo on Firm’s Stability, Finds ‘No Red Flags’ To Block Contract Signing
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/11/hart-panel-quizzes-ansaldo-on-firms.html

Open Letter to Outdoor Circle Members: Some of You Oppose Rail, but Have You Weighed Impacts vs Benefits? Unless Your Life Is Impacted Daily by Congestion, You Can’t Appreciate Traffic’s Costs
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/11/open-letter-to-outdoor-circle-members.html

Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

to2leo,
This is in answer to your question about the Bus System on Hawaii, and why it might not easily be expanded to meet the needs of Oahu's traffic problem.

Read this first:
http://gohawaii.about.com/od/hawaii/a/destroying.htm

Honolulu traffic, youtube:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/aj3_kEff-pA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/aj3_kEff-pA</a>

Traffic in hawaii really sucks!
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/HrB-0mLowEg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/HrB-0mLowEg</a>

Photos of the Freeway system on Oahu. Understand that 25 years ago, when I lived on Oahu, it was nothing to see a solid mass of red tail lights on H1 going at high speed downtown leaving the City at 12 midnight. It has gotten much worse since then:
http://www.hawaiihighways.com/photos-Interstate-H1.htm

Photo of congested H1. Scroll down to the bottom and also read his comments:
http://www.tsblogs.com/newstradamus/2008/03/


The problem is getting off the highway system, either downtown or at the western and northern ends of H1 and H2, so even if TheBus has separate bus lanes, (shared with carpool lanes) it still must slow down and wait to exit the highway. Once you try to exit the highways, there are no large roads to easily contain and disperse the flow of traffic coming off the highway. All of the exits lead to stoplights within 100 meters or less with no alternate routes to go around the lights. It is the same with the exits leading off H1 going to West (Kapolei/Waianae)and H2 going Northwest. (Wahiawa/Mililani) here the exits directly lead into subdivisions/residential areas with reduced speed limits.

You can sort of get the idea of how geography creates choke points that make adding additional highways expensive and difficult.
Relief Maps of Oahu.
http://mappery.com/Oahu-3D-Map

http://sherwinhawaiimapsspot.blogspot.com/2010/06/june-23-2010-1st-blog-3-interesting.html

http://www.raisedreliefmaps.com/details.mgi?Code=0016

One thing not brought up is Hawaii can ill afford to build extra highways on its own. The current H1, H2 and H3 were largely funded by the Federal Government to expedite movement between the military bases on Oahu and Pearl Harbor/Hickam AFB to support deployments in emergencies. I believe that the best way to have access to Federal monies is in the current fiscal crisis is a Mass Transit system.

Sen. Inouye is the best bet to steer funds Hawaii's way, but he will not remain in Washington forever and if the Republicans gain control of the Senate and White House, can you say Massachusetts under Nixon?

Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

HART signs rail contract with Ansaldo
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2011/11/28/hart-signs-rail-contract-with-ansaldo.html

Honolulu signs rail contract with Italian company
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/nov/28/bc-hi-honolulu-rail/?business&business-wire


Clock Ticking on $510M in Honolulu Rail Funding
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/29/14057-clock-ticking-on-510m-in-honolulu-rail-funding/

Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

Recent news.

Honolulu rail eligible for $510M in federal funding next year
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16149190/honolulu-rail-eligible-for-510m-in-federal-funding-next-year

Rail Eligible for $510 Million In 2012
http://www.kitv.com/r/29883487/detail.html

Similar information here, but uses granted versus eligible.
Federal Funding Granted For Honolulu Rail Transit Project
http://www.railroad.net/federal-funding-granted-for-honolulu-rail-transit-project-401.html

Pro-rail site.
New Media’ May Have Its Place, but Don’t Expect To Find ‘Balance’ and ‘Objectivity’ There, too
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/11/new-media-have-their-place-but-dont.html

Top Ironic News of the Day: Traffic-Stuck Drivers Hear Radio Host Blast Signing of Rail Contract; What If Honolulu Had a DeeJay Who Liked Rail?
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/11/top-ironic-news-of-day-traffic-stuck.html

Conservative news site.
Battle Escalates Over the Future of Honolulu's Proposed Multi Billion Dollar Rail
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/battle-over-the-future-of-honolulus-proposed-rail-escalates/123/comment-page-1

Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

Yes2rail has a couple of new articles.

Enlarging TheBus Fleet and Making Rides Free Would Do Nothing To ‘Solve’ Congestion Problem
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/increasing-number-of-buses-making-rides.html

LTE (letters to the editor) Forum Covers Both Sides of Rail Issue, but Focusing on Opposition Seems More Productive
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/lte-forum-covers-both-sides-of-rail.html

More on new LTE feature. Scroll down a bit.
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

From StarAdvertiser. Need to log in/pay to read further.
"The city is considering a batch of engineering changes to the $5.17 billion Honolulu rail project, including a proposal to reduce the size of the stations and the length of the trains that would operate on the elevated rail system.
Login for more..."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=135013683

Best wishes,
Grant

[Mudkip Orange]

including a proposal to reduce the size of the stations and the length of the trains that would operate on the elevated rail system.

Well gee... that's not shortsighted or anything.

[gmat]

From StarAdvertiser. You must pay to read the rest.
Honor bound
A plan to free keep rail stations free of pay barriers is designed for efficiency, but relies on rider honesty and effective enforcement
http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=135399473

Stop rail to save Oahu's natural beauty
http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=135397603

HART makes good case for Ansaldo deal
http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=135397558

Recent news. Yes2Rail
Sun. Dec. 11
Friends of the Outdoors, How Big Is Your Circle? Broader Vision in the 21st Century Could Win Friends, Save Human Lives as Well as Trees
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/friends-of-outdoors-how-big-is-your.html

Fri. Dec. 9
Giving ‘The Tampa Look’ a Second Look; Is This What Environmentalists Say Is Better than Rail?
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/giving-tampa-look-second-look-is-this.html

Thurs. Dec. 8
Media Roundup: Congestion, More Lanes on H-1, Rail Maintenance and Tampa’s ‘Aircraft Carrier’
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/media-roundup-congestion-more-lanes-on.html

Tues. Dec. 6
HART: Ansaldo Contract Oversight Is Top Priority; LTE Forum: ‘Free’ Bus Service Isn’t Really ‘Free’
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2011/12/hart-ansaldo-contract-oversight-is-top.html

Best wishes.
Grant

[gmat]

The news recently has been rather sparse and not promising for the rail project.

From the StarAdvertiser, you have to pay to read it;
Rail costs low-balled, consultant says.
A former Los Angeles transit official also warns that ridership forecasts are too high.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=137338873

From Yes2Rail;
Anti-Railers Import ‘Hired Gun’ To Attack Project; Long Anti-Transit History Undermines Credibility
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2012/01/anti-railers-import-hired-gun-to-attack.html

From Pacific Business News; Short articles with not much meat.
Feds say Honolulu rail plan needs more financial muscle
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2011/12/feds-say-honolulu-rail-plan-needs-more.html

Pacific Resource Partnership seeks to intervene in Honolulu rail lawsuit
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2012/01/03/pacific-resource-partnership-seeks-to.html

Honolulu rail board approves $2.79B spending plan
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/12/honolulu-rail-board-approves-279b.html

The Examiner.com gathers reports from an eclectic range of writers;
http://www.examiner.com/rail-in-honolulu


Some earlier news.
From Honolulu Civil Beat;
What Convinced Honolulu Rail Officials That Ansaldo Could Do The Job?
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/11/25/14018-what-convinced-honolulu-rail-officials-that-ansaldo-could-do-the-job/

Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

Not much recent News. Former Governor Ben Cayetano, who opposes the rail project is running for Honolulu City Mayor.

From the StarAdvertiser;
Honolulu given go-ahead to begin heavy construction on rail
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/138815984.html?id=138815984

Older NYT article;
After 40-Year Battle, Train May Roll for Oahu
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/us/hawaii-train-line-is-likely-to-rise-on-oahu.html

From Hawaii Reporter;
City Proposes $450 Million Line of Credit for Rail Project;
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/house-speaker-no-disrespect-bill-not-targeted-at-any-one-individual-city-proposes-450-million-line-of-credit-for-rail-project-hearing-on-controversial-undersea-cable-will-be-held-in-senate-tod/123

Pritchett's Pen: Honolulu Rail Transit Cattle Car
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/pritchetts-pen-honolulu-rail-transit-cattle-car/123

Recent News from Honolulutraffic.com;
It's final: Traffic congestion will be worse with rail:

It's final: Rail would not be more energy efficient than your car:

Star Advertiser story — the city learns about change orders for rail:
http://www.honolulutraffic.com/

Best wishes,
Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

God, the ignorance displayed by the anti-rail forces in America.  I must lose a few points of IQ just by reading some of their drivel.

[gmat]

Democrat ex-Governor Ben Cayetano decision to run continues to spark interest. Reminds me of the late ex-Mayor Frank Fasi who ultimately switched to the Republican party. Thanks in part to him mass transport in Hawaii has been stymied since the 70s.

http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

Articles from most recent;

Saturday, February 18, 2012
Week in Review: Poll Says Rail Support Has Fallen, But Flawed Question, Timing Erode Its Credibility; Call for Serious Transit Discussion Went Nowhere
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/2012/02/week-in-review-poll-says-rail-support.html

Cayetano Cuts Civil Beat From Campaign Media List
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/17/14912-cayetano-cuts-civil-beat-from-campaign-media-list/

From Hawaii Reporter;
Poll: Honolulu Rail Support Falls
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/poll-honolulu-rail-support-falls/123

Link to StarAdvertiser article via The Hawaii Reporter;
Rail support falls
http://www.honolulutraffic.com/Rail_support_falls.pdf

Politics connected to the project;
SHOPO endorses Caldwell for Honolulu mayor, expresses concern over rail
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/SHOPO-endorses-Caldwell-for-Honolulu-mayor/clNueZ1--02tMOp37yJuuw.cspx

Same news from the StarAdvertiser;
SHOPO endorses Caldwell for mayor
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/139325833.html

From Hawaii News Now;
SHOPO endorses Caldwell for Honolulu Mayor
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16935225/shopo-endorses-caldwell-for-honolulu-mayor

A couple from Honolulu Civil Beat on the same topic;
SHOPO: Carlisle Didn’t Even Call
http://honolulu.politics.government.blogs.civilbeat.com/post/17618651678/shopo-carlisle-didnt-even-call

SHOPO To Endorse Caldwell Today
http://honolulu.politics.government.blogs.civilbeat.com/post/17616475565/shopo-to-endorse-caldwell-today

Money approved for the Rail;
U.S. Transportation Secretary recommends $250 Million toward Honolulu’s rail project
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/U-S-Transportation-Secretary-recommends-250/2OuvV2Bd2EKTR_VgzMsomQ.cspx

Also from Honolulu Civil Beat. Local political fight could affect disbursement of Federal Funds.
FTA Watching Opponents, Wants $250M for Honolulu Rail
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/14/14883-fta-watching-opponents-wants-250m-for-honolulu-rail/

From Honolulu Civil Beat. Examining statements made by Cayetano;
Just How Deep Will Honolulu Rail's Debt Be?
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/13/14855-just-how-deep-will-honolulu-rails-debt-be/

From Hawaii Business News on the selection process for top job candidate.
Honolulu rail authority mum on top job candidates
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2012/02/honolulu-rail-authority-mum-on-top-job.html

Interesting op/ed from Honolulu Civil Beat. Some of the comments are also interesting.
Time to Get Serious About Rail Conversation
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/16/14903-time-to-get-serious-about-rail-conversation/


Best wishes,
Grant

[gmat]

Wall Street Journal article on the Honolulu Rail;
Honolulu Hopeful Has No-Track Mind
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204131004577234461024281118.html


Honolulu City Mayor talks about the rail in his State Of The City Address.
Rail is 'the only viable option' for Oahu, Carlisle says in address
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/140208123.html?id=140208123


Honolulu Civil Beat on his speech.
Carlisle on Rail: 'We Need to Keep Moving Forward'
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/23/14974-carlisle-on-rail-we-need-to-keep-moving-forward/

Yes2Rail updates;
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Cayetano vs Civil Beat Update: Mayoral Candidate Refuses To Talk with Investigative Journalist, Tells Reporter: ‘I Don’t Want You To Call Me Anymore’; Will Journalist Group File a Protest?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ex-Councilman: ‘Isolated Snapshot’ on Rail Views No Excuse To Abandon Years of Planning, Says Mayoral Candidate Is Encouraging Misinformation; Gas Prices Hit Historic Level for This Early in Year

Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Media Ignore Obvious Flaws in Rail Opinion Poll, Repeat GI-GO Results in Stories; Senator DKI Expects Attitudes To Change with Issues Debate

Sunday, February 19, 2012
Star-Advertiser Prints First Comprehensive Piece on Rail Construction as Project Readies for Phase One; LTE Forum: What HOT Lanes Are and Aren’t

Saturday, February 18, 2012
Week in Review: Poll Says Rail Support Has Fallen, But Flawed Question, Timing Erode Its Credibility; Call for Serious Transit Discussion Went Nowhere
http://yes2rail.blogspot.com/

Other news;
A City Council policy normally limits debt service to 20 percent of the annual operating budget
http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=140117183

HNL Rail Transit (@HNL_RTD) on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/hnl_rtd

Article about the Hawaiian Railway.
All aboard;
http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=139619213

Best wishes,.
Grant

[to2leo]

On a lighter side, I am just waiting for Hawaii Five-O to do an episode on the Light Rail since they did one on the super ferry already.
 

[gmat]

From The StarAdvertiser;

Rail needs more seats
As few as 64 riders can sit; 254 will have standing room only

http://www.staradvertiser.com/s?action=login&f=y&id=141003623

Welcome to Mass transit. But perhaps you should also show the revenue figures/cost for cars with more seating versus cars with more standing room.

You must pay to view the rest of the article.

Best wishes,
Grant

[bikkuri bahn]

I notice there is a preoccupation in America with getting a seat when riding mass transit and commuter trains.   The question is, is this project intended to provide a commuter line (i.e. suburbs to CBD/employment centers and vice versa), or a system where people take shorter trips, like a streetcar?  The dynamics are different.

[Mudkip Orange]

Well, yeah, there's some long-ass commutes 'round these parts.

[gmat]

New chief for rail agency approved by HART board;

Daniel Grabauskas, the former head of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, was officially selected today to run Honolulu's $5.27 billion rail transit project in a unanimous vote by the board of directors of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/141123823.html?id=141123823

Best wishes,
Grant

[3railgreg]

Well, I hope they caulked the barrel, because Light Rail there is the largest pork project I have seen as of late. But hey what is 6 Billion these days....

[Mudkip Orange]

Well, I hope they caulked the barrel, because Light Rail there is the largest pork project I have seen as of late. But hey what is 6 Billion these days....

Hey, good question. What is $6B?

Let's check out the interest rates on TIPS (Treasury Inflation Protected Securities).

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=realyield

Whaddya know? Negative!

How 'bout the regular 5-year T-bill?

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield

Wow! 1.44% annualized! That's... less than inflation!



Yes, the economy is so bad, real interest rates on government debt are negative. With millions out of work, who'd like to be working, this is the PERFECT time to spend craploads on infrastructure projects that will employ construction guys, engineering guys, factory guys...