This article was originally published as a “Community Voice” in Civil Beat on Nov. 14, 2018. The Honolulu rail system is projected to lose millions of dollars every year after opening in 2026. So it’s baffling that any company would want to partner with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
This was originally published as a Letter to the Editor in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday, Nov. 4. The Honolulu City Council’s decision to approve Bill 42 violates the promise made to Honolulu taxpayers in 2006 that city funds would not be used for the rail project (“Council commits city funds
Sometimes, addressing rail funding can feel like you’re standing on the tracks, politely asking Hawaii’s policymakers to consider hitting the switch and redirecting the train before it runs us over. That is why the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii last week was at a meeting of the Honolulu City Council. The
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii submitted testimony today (Oct. 30, 2018) to the Honolulu City Council Committee on Legislative Matters regarding Bill 42, relating to funding for Honolulu County’s rail project. The comments were submitted Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute executive vice president. ***************************** Aloha, Chair (Ernest Y.) Martin, Vice Chair (Kymberly
Honolulu’s rail project is hoping to save costs by partnering with private companies in a process known as a public-private partnership, or “P3.” But experts say that nationally many rail P3s have enabled the government project managers to duck budgetary limits in the short run and spread their higher costs
A few years ago, I did an interview for our “E Hana Kakou” show with LaVonda Atkinson, a cost engineer and whistleblower on a San Francisco project that extended part of that city’s existing subway by two miles — “at a billion dollars a mile.” After looking over the problems
With budget shortfalls a continuing part of the conversation about the Honolulu rail, one question voters are asking is: “Are there more taxes in our future?” The answer is … maybe. Representatives of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) have said they are confident that they can finish the
How are those rail ridership projections working out for you, Puerto Rico? What Honolulu Rail Planners Can Learn From Puerto Rico
The Honolulu rail project is attracting new adjectives. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser recently dubbed it “troubled,” Honolulu Civil Beat called it “beleaguered,” and one of its own overseers, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) board member John Henry Felix, alluded to the project as being “flawed.” Given the lack of transparency
This article was originally published as a “Community Voice” in Civil Beat on Nov. 14, 2018. The Honolulu rail system is projected to lose millions of dollars every year after opening in 2026. So it’s baffling that any company would want to partner with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
This was originally published as a Letter to the Editor in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sunday, Nov. 4. The Honolulu City Council’s decision to approve Bill 42 violates the promise made to Honolulu taxpayers in 2006 that city funds would not be used for the rail project (“Council commits city funds
Sometimes, addressing rail funding can feel like you’re standing on the tracks, politely asking Hawaii’s policymakers to consider hitting the switch and redirecting the train before it runs us over. That is why the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii last week was at a meeting of the Honolulu City Council. The
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii submitted testimony today (Oct. 30, 2018) to the Honolulu City Council Committee on Legislative Matters regarding Bill 42, relating to funding for Honolulu County’s rail project. The comments were submitted Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute executive vice president. ***************************** Aloha, Chair (Ernest Y.) Martin, Vice Chair (Kymberly
Honolulu’s rail project is hoping to save costs by partnering with private companies in a process known as a public-private partnership, or “P3.” But experts say that nationally many rail P3s have enabled the government project managers to duck budgetary limits in the short run and spread their higher costs
A few years ago, I did an interview for our “E Hana Kakou” show with LaVonda Atkinson, a cost engineer and whistleblower on a San Francisco project that extended part of that city’s existing subway by two miles — “at a billion dollars a mile.” After looking over the problems
With budget shortfalls a continuing part of the conversation about the Honolulu rail, one question voters are asking is: “Are there more taxes in our future?” The answer is … maybe. Representatives of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) have said they are confident that they can finish the
How are those rail ridership projections working out for you, Puerto Rico? What Honolulu Rail Planners Can Learn From Puerto Rico
The Honolulu rail project is attracting new adjectives. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser recently dubbed it “troubled,” Honolulu Civil Beat called it “beleaguered,” and one of its own overseers, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) board member John Henry Felix, alluded to the project as being “flawed.” Given the lack of transparency
