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Skyline (Honolulu)

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Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor
Overview
OwnerCity and County of Honolulu
LocaleHonolulu, Hawaii
Termini
Stations22
Service
TypeRapid transit
History
Opened2012 (planned)
Technical
Line length20 mi (32 km)
Route map
Template:Infobox rdt

The Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project (HHCTC) is the official name of the plan to construct an elevated rapid transit line serving the island of Oahu. Plans for a mass transit line to connect Honolulu's urban center with outlying areas began in the 1960s,[1] but funding was not approved until 2005, when the Honolulu City Council authorized a necessary tax increase.[2] The controversy over the rail line was the dominant issue in local politics leading up to the 2008 elections,[3] culminating in a city charter amendment that left the final decision to Oahu voters.[4] The amendment passed with 53% of votes cast in favor.[5][6]

The project as planned will construct an elevated rapid transit line from the edge of Kapolei, near the proposed site of the University of Hawaii-West Oahu campus, to Ala Moana Center. The line will pass through communities along southern Oahu via Honolulu International Airport and downtown Honolulu. The plan also includes extensions east through Kapolei itself, a link through Salt Lake, and extensions west to the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus and Waikiki.[7] Rolling stock to be used on the line will be similar to that of light rail systems in the United States (such as those used on the MAX in Portland, Oregon and the Metro Gold Line in Los Angeles), carrying approximately 300 passengers in each 200-foot long train.[8]

Background

File:Mayorneilsblaisdell.jpg
Former Honolulu mayor Neal S. Blaisdell

For more than forty years, Honolulu politicians have attempted to construct a rail transit line. As early as 1966, then-Mayor Neal S. Blaisdell cited rail as a solution to alleviate traffic problems in Honolulu, saying: "Taken in the mass, the automobile is a noxious mechanism whose destiny in workaday urban use is to frustrate man and make dead certain that he approaches his daily occupation unhappy and inefficient."[1] Frank Fasi was elected to office in 1968, and also supported the rail project,[9] officially named Honolulu Area Rapid Transit (HART) in 1977.[10] After Fasi lost the 1980 election to Eileen Anderson, President Ronald Reagan (elected in the same year) cut off funding for upcoming mass transit projects; this led Anderson to cancel HART in 1981.[11][12][13] Fasi was reelected in 1984, and restarted the HART project two years later,[14] but the second effort was stopped by a 1992 vote in the Honolulu City Council against the necessary tax increase.[15][2] Jeremy Harris won the 1994 elections, and unsuccessfully pursued a bus rapid transit project as an interim solution.[16] His successor, Mufi Hannemann, started the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project (HHCTC), the island's fourth attempt to build a mass transit system operating in a dedicated right-of-way.

History

Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann

General Excise Tax increase

Shortly after winning the election, Hannemann announced that construction of a rail line was an administration priority.[17] The following May, the Hawaii State Legislature passed a bill to allow Hawaii counties a half-percent increase in the Hawaii General Excise Tax, from 4% to 4.5%. According to the bill, increased revenue will be delivered to counties effecting the raised tax, to fund mass transit projects.[18] Money collected from the initial 4% GET would remain state revenue. Governor Linda Lingle initially threatened to veto the bill, believing money destined for county governments should be collected by the individual counties. After compromising with Legislature leaders and Mayor Hannemann, however, she allowed it to become law (as Act 247, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005[19]) without her signature on July 12, 2005.[20][21][22] A month later, the Honolulu City Council authorized the half-percent GET increase,[23] and Hannemann signed the increase into law on August 24.[24] The half-percent increase went into effect on January 1, 2007, and is due to expire on December 31, 2022.[19] The City Council vote to approve the tax increase reversed the decision made thirteen years earlier in 1992 against raising taxes to pay for a rail line.[2]

Act 247 requires the City and County of Honolulu to use the funds only for the construction and operation of a mass transit system, and bars its use for public roads or other existing transit systems (such as TheBus.) Because no other county authorized the half-percent increase by ordinance before the deadline of December 31, 2005, the Hawaii GET remains at 4% for Hawaii's three other counties.[19]

On January 21, 2009, State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa announced that taking income from the portion of the GET intended for the rail project was one of numerous options being considered to offset a $1.8 billion projected shortfall in the state budget over the next three years. State Senator Donna Mercado Kim, chair of the Senate budget committee, also expressed approval for the idea.[25] Governor Lingle has made a similar proposal to transfer income for one year to the state, and extending the duration of the tax to make up for the loss to the city.[26] Critics of re-appropriating tax revenues include Mayor Hannemann, Managing Director-designate Kirk Caldwell, and city Department of Transportation Services director Wayne Yoshioka. Those opposed to the move are concerned that federal funding for the project would be jeopardized by redirecting tax income.[27][25] The proposal is expected to be studied and debated during the 2009 legislative session, scheduled to adjourn on May 7.[28]

Alternatives Analysis Report

The City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services released a formal report in November 2006, titled the Alternatives Analysis Report, which compared the cost and benefits of a rail system (or "fixed guideway system" as it was called) with three alternatives. The first, a "no-build" option, expanded the existing bus system to match population growth. A second option was called "Transportation System Management", and called for a further expansion to the bus system further, with improvements to existing roads. The third alternative was the "Managed Lane" option, proposing a two-lane flyover above the H-1 freeway between Pearl City and Honolulu International Airport, continuing over Nimitz Highway, and into downtown Honolulu. The report recommended construction of the fixed guideway, and is considered the city's official justification for building a rail line.[29][30]

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was cleared for public release by the Federal Transit Administration on October 29, 2008, and distributed via the city's official website four days later, after minor changes were made to comply with state law. Some people criticized the timing of the release, as it came out two days before the 2008 general election. They suggested that the city was deliberately denying key information to early voters who had already cast their ballots for the mayoral candidates and a city charter amendment related to the project.[31][32][33] The DEIS indicated that impacts of the rail project would include land acquisition from private owners on the route, displacement of residents and businesses, aesthetic concerns related to the elevated guide-way, and noise from passing trains.[34] The anti-rail advocacy group Stop Rail Now criticized the report for not discussing bus rapid transit and toll lanes, options studied earlier by the city in its Alternatives Analysis.[35] The city accepted public comments on the DEIS until February 6, 2009.[36][37]

Impact on the 2008 Honolulu mayoral election

The importance of the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project in the 2008 mayoral election led one observer to describe the vote as a "referendum on rail transit".[3] Two challengers emerged as rivals to incumbent Mufi Hannemann: City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, and University of Hawaii professor Panos Prevedouros. Kobayashi supported a "rubber-tired" mass transit system (as opposed to the conventional steel-wheel-on-steel-rail system chosen by the Hannemann administration), and Prevedouros opposed any mass transit project, favoring construction of a reversible tollway over the H-1 (similar to the Managed Lane option studied in the Alternatives Analysis) and reworking existing road systems to ease congestion.[38] No candidate won a majority of votes in the September 20 primary, forcing a runoff between Hannemann and Kobayashi;[39] Hannemann successfully retained his post with 58% of the vote in the November general election.[40]

Ballot initiative and charter amendment

On April 22, 2008, an anti-rail organization named "Stop Rail Now" announced their intent to file a petition with the city to place a question on the 2008 ballot to create an ordinance reading: "Honolulu mass transit shall not include trains or rail."[41] Stop Rail Now attempted to submit the petition with 49,041 signatures to City Clerk Denise De Costa on August 5, but was initially denied after De Costa claimed the city charter did not allow the petition to be submitted less than 180 days before a general election, as the wording of the petition called for a special election.[42][43] Stop Rail Now filed a lawsuit to force the city to accept the petition, and the courts ruled in SRN's favor on August 14.[44] SRN's petition ultimately failed after De Costa deemed 35,056 of the signatures valid on September 4, well short of the number required.[45][46]

While the petition was being processed, the City Council voted on August 21 to place a proposed amendment to the city charter on the ballot, asking voters to decide the fate of the project, in case SRN's petition failed;[47] Mayor Hannemann signed it the following day.[48] The City Council's question ("Shall the powers, duties, and functions of the city, through its director of transportation services, include establishment of a steel wheel on steel rail transit system?") would not have a direct legal effect on the city's ability to continue the project, but was intended as a means for Oahu residents to express their opinions on its construction.[4] The charter amendment was approved with 53% of votes cast in favor and 47% against; the majority of people living in Leeward and Central Oahu (areas expected to benefit from the project) generally voted in favor of the amendment, while the majority of those living outside the project's scope in Windward Oahu and East Honolulu voted against it.[5][6]

Route

Rolling stock will likely be similar to this Gold Line train in Los Angeles

The proposed rail line has 36 stations and runs from Kapolei to Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu, where it splits into spurs leading to the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus and Waikiki. The line also forks near Aloha Stadium into two routes, one passing Honolulu International Airport, and the other moving through Salt Lake before reuniting at Middle Street in Kalihi. The city currently plans to build the section of the line between Ewa Beach and Ala Moana Shopping Center, excluding the portion passing Salt Lake, with a total of 22 stations along the route.[7] The city council initially decided to build the Salt Lake route before the airport route, the result of a compromise with City Councilmember Romy Cachola, whose constituents include Salt Lake residents.[49][50] After the city charter amendment on rail transit passed, the City Council reconsidered the decision, and decided to re-route the rail line to pass by Pearl Harbor and the airport.[51][52] The line will be served by 200 ft (61 m) long trains, each with a capacity of 300 passengers. The trains will operate with up to 20 departures per hour.[8]

The line is scheduled to open in five phases between 2012 and 2018:[53]

  • 2012: West Loch – Pearl Highlands
  • 2013: East Kapolei – West Loch
  • 2016: Pearl Highlands – Aloha Stadium
  • 2017: Aloha Stadium – Middle Street
  • 2018: Middle Street – Ala Moana Center

References

  1. ^ a b "Blaisdell hails Oahu mass transit project", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, pp. A12, 1966-05-24{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ^ a b c Reyes, B.J. (2005-08-11), "Council gives transit go-ahead 13 years after initial rejection", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-16
  3. ^ a b Carlson, Ragnar (2008-09-03), "Hail to the chief", Honolulu Weekly, retrieved 2008-10-16
  4. ^ a b Au, Laurie (2008-10-19), "Voters can derail $4B project", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-12
  5. ^ a b Au, Laurie (2008-11-10), "Voters on route drive rail victory", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-12
  6. ^ a b DePledge, Derrick (2008-11-10), "Geography played key role in Hawaii rail vote", Honolulu Advertiser, retrieved 2008-11-15
  7. ^ a b City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, Rail Transit Map (Part 1: Kapolei-Ewa), (Part 2: Waipahu-Aiea), (Part 3: Stadium-Kalihi), (Part 4: Kalihi-UH-Manoa/Waikiki), retrieved 5 January 2009
  8. ^ a b City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, "Q&A: Honolulu Rail Transit" brochure, retrieved 5 January 2009
  9. ^ "Fasi To Start Rail Transit Study", Honolulu Star-Bulletin & Advertiser, pp. A1, 1969-02-16 (Note: At this time, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and Honolulu Advertiser published Sunday editions jointly under the name Honolulu Star-Bulletin & Advertiser.)
  10. ^ Tune, Jerry (1977-07-07), "A Transit Line with a HART", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, pp. A12
  11. ^ Matsunaga, Mark (1981-02-19), "Reagan stops HART in its tracks", Honolulu Advertiser, pp. A1{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  12. ^ Matsunaga, Mark (1981-05-05), "Mayor to abandon HART, beef up buses", Honolulu Advertiser, pp. A1
  13. ^ Glauberman, Stu (1981-05-05), "Mayor Calls HART Study to Abrupt Halt", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, pp. A1
  14. ^ Matsunaga, Mark (1986-08-14), "Transit system plan revived", Honolulu Advertiser, pp. A3
  15. ^ Mariani, Jeanne (1992-09-23), "Rail line dead - for now", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, pp. A1{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  16. ^ Dicus, Howard (2004-01-30), "Harris: 'Honolulu must build fixed rail'", Pacific Business News, retrieved 2008-10-16
  17. ^ Kua, Crystal (2005-01-01), "Director prioritizes rail transit", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-16
  18. ^ Kua, Crystal (2005-05-05), "City measure touts rail tax", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-16
  19. ^ a b c State of Hawaii Department of Taxation Announcement 2005-11
  20. ^ Kua, Crystal (2005-07-12), "Late deal avoids transit veto", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-16
  21. ^ DePledge, Derrick; Dingeman, Robbie (2005-07-12), "Deal puts transit tax back on track", Honolulu Advertiser, pp. A1
  22. ^ Zimmerman, Malia (2005-07-12), "Surrounded By Democrats at the Capitol, Hawaii's Republican Governor Rescinds Decision to Veto Tax Increase Measure", Hawaii Reporter, retrieved 2008-10-16
  23. ^ Kua, Crystal (2005-08-11), "Transit project to raise taxes", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-16
  24. ^ Kua, Crystal (2005-08-24), "Mayor signs tax, calls for multi-faceted traffic solutions", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-16
  25. ^ a b Borreca, Richard (2009-01-22), "Legislature battles to avert $1.8B deficit", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2009-01-24
  26. ^ DePledge, Derrick; Boylan, Peter (2009-01-22), "Governor emphasizes Hawaii's deficit woes as Legislature opens", Honolulu Advertiser, retrieved 2009-01-24
  27. ^ Nakaso, Dan (2009-01-24), "Stimulus could revive Honolulu, mayor says", Honolulu Advertiser, retrieved 2009-01-24
  28. ^ Hawaii State Legislature, Legislative Timetable, accessed on 24 January 2009
  29. ^ Kua, Crystal (2006-11-03), "Council panel backs rail as mass-transit solution", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-15
  30. ^ Alternatives Analysis Report Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 to 7
  31. ^ "Critics blast city for not immediately releasing new Honolulu transit study", Honolulu Advertiser, 2008-10-30, retrieved 2008-11-06
  32. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-10-31), "City releases portion of rail report", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-06
  33. ^ Shikina, Robert (2008-11-03), "Kobayashi rails against city for timing of report", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-06
  34. ^ Draft Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary
  35. ^ Hao, Sean; Roig, Suzanne (2008-11-03), "Hawaii rail transit cost now at least $4.28B", Honolulu Advertiser, retrieved 2008-11-06
  36. ^ City and County of Honolulu (2008-12-18), "PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR HONOLULU RAIL TRANSIT'S DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 6", retrieved on 14 January 2009
  37. ^ U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration; City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services DEIS Cover to Contents, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4 (Part 1), Chapter 4 (Part 2), Chapter 5, Chapters 6-8, References to Index, Appendix A (Conceptual Alignment Plans and Profiles), Appendix B (Conceptual Right-of-Way Plans, Appendix C (Construction Approach), Appendix D (Record of Agency Correspondence and Coordination), Appendix E (Record of Public and Stakeholder Correspondence and Coordination), retrieved on 5 January 2009
  38. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-09-10), "Mayoral debate turns raucous", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-16
  39. ^ Borreca, Richard; Au, Laurie (2008-09-21), "Hannemann and Kobayashi reset sights for Nov. 4", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-20
  40. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-11-05), "Hannemann win re-election with 58%", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-05
  41. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-04-22), "Rail critics utilize power of pen", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-10-20
  42. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-08-05), "Lawsuit looms over validity of anti-rail petition", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-06
  43. ^ Section 3-404, Revised Charter of Honolulu
  44. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-08-20), "City clerk rushing to certify anti-rail effort", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-06
  45. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-09-04), "Anti-rail group's effort denied by courts, clerk", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-06
  46. ^ Zimmerman, Malia (2008-09-05), "Stop Rail Now Moves Forward, Despite Three Major Blows by Courts and Clerk", Hawaii Reporter, retrieved 2008-11-12
  47. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-08-21), "Council OKs ballot question on transit", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-12
  48. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-08-22), "Mayor vows to put transit on ballot", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-11-12
  49. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-11-17), "Rail route changes trigger harsh words", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2009-01-18
  50. ^ Kua, Crystal (2007-02-22), "Rail route to go via Salt Lake", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-01-18
  51. ^ Au, Laurie (2008-01-2), "New rail route OK'd", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retrieved 2008-01-29 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ Hao, Sean (2008-01-29), "Council changes transit route to serve airport", Honolulu Advertiser, retrieved 2008-01-29
  53. ^ City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, Project Schedule, retrieved on 13 January 2009
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