Honolulu Rail: A Vision for Tomorrow
By Hawaii State Senator Will Espero
The battle for a rail transit system for Oahu is heating up. Both opponents and proponents have formed organizations to further their causes. I have ridden many rail systems around the world, and I am a strong believer that we need to build a system for Oahu.
If the City Council had not voted against rail in 1992 by a 5-4 vote, Oahu residents would be riding rail today. There is a possibility a spur to Mililani, Ko Olina or Kahala Mall would have been operating or almost complete. It is my understanding that if Mayor Fasi had not lost his election in the 70s and his rail project was built, the federal government would have paid 90% of the costs. These facts show that this issue will not go away, and the longer we wait, the more expensive the project becomes.
In the next 30 – 40 years, Oahu’s population is expected to increase by at least 250,000 people, maybe more. It is likely many if not the majority will live in Central and West Oahu. We have the land to build homes, schools, parks, and businesses, however, we do not have enough land to build more highways. Some individuals are pushing for an elevated toll road from West Oahu to downtown.
A toll road could be part of the solution, but in time, a toll road will face congestion as well. There is also the issue of the cost of the toll, and I have read anywhere from $6 to $15 one way during rush hour is possible. Toll roads also encourage more driving when we should be looking at options to get people out of their automobiles.
Some opponents say we cannot afford a rail system. I say we cannot afford not to build one. The City has budgeted $3.7 billion dollars for the project, and as the largest public works project on Oahu, it will create many construction jobs for area residents and certainly help our economy. With inflation factored in, by 2020 the total costs may be $5 billion. As a spending comparison, your state government spends over $10 billion per year. A half percent increase in the general excise tax will pay for most of the project, and it should be noted that tourists’ spending will pay a hefty sum of the costs. We will also work with our Congressional delegation to secure hundreds of millions of dollars from our federal government. Potential riders will not only be the 1,000,000 residents of Oahu, but also our 7 million visitors each year.
A rail system will not eliminate traffic congestion. It is expected to reduce traffic by a small margin, but most importantly, it will give residents another option to commute. Without rail, traffic would get worse much sooner. Some benefits of rail are passengers will not be affected by car accidents, stalled vehicles, flat tires, debris in the road, rainy weather, or potholes. Rail users can also save on the high cost of car maintenance and monthly parking. In time as people see the value of rail, more people will use it. The bus system will be modified to feed into the rail system with transfers between buses and the rail being automatic.
More employment in Kapolei, Ewa Beach, and West Oahu will reduce the number of commuters to town, and projects like U.H. West Oahu, Family Court, Ray Kroc Community Center, Ewa Industrial Park, Target Mall, DeBartolo Mall, Disney at Ko Olina, and Hoakalei Resort and Marina in Ewa Beach will provide new opportunities. But this alone will not solve our traffic problems.
Opponents of rail have also said the project is about real estate development and not transportation. Riders will obviously use it to commute, and the rail system will be a catalyst for new development around the transit stations. In transit-oriented development (TODs), affordable homes, childcare facilities, businesses, and other establishments will want to be located at or near these stations because the rail line will provide easy access to the public. If new communities are built around rail stations, less agricultural land and rural land will be needed for our growing population. This in turn will help keep the country country. So yes, there is a real estate or smart growth development factor in this long-term master planning.
Environmentally, the rail will expel less carbon into the air than automobiles and trucks. Since the rail will run on electricity, it is imperative that we aggressively work to use more solar, wind, wave, and waste-to-power energy for our electricity in order to reduce our reliance on finite supplies of fossil fuels. This can be done.
The Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star Bulletin recently published polls which show the majority of Oahu residents support rail. This is just a snapshot of resident’s opinions, however, if we vote on this matter in November, I believe the pro-rail vote shall prevail and the will of the majority will move forward with rail.
A rail system is for today but also for future generations. Twenty years from now, the wisdom of an Oahu rail system will be obvious and clear. Rail systems have been beneficial around the world for over 100 years, and it’s time for Oahu to get on board this train and improve the quality of life for our residents.
Senator Will Espero represents the 20th Senatorial District (Waipahu, Ewa, Ewa Beach and West Loch) on the Island of Oahu. He also serves as the Chair of the Senate’s Public Safety Committee.