Why we need to press ‘pause’ on the Honolulu rail project

From Grassroot Institute of Hawaii May 17, 2021

Another year, another interview about Honolulu’s seriously troubled rail system — the problem that won’t go away!

But for a change, we seem to be at a moment when hitting the “pause” button on the most expensive megaproject per capita in the world makes a lot of sense.

Hawaii’s most popular morning radio host, Michael W. Perry, leader of “Perry & The Posse” on KSSK 92.3 FM, invited Grassroot Institute of Hawaii President Keli’i Akina on his show recently to talk all about.

The starting point for the conversation was a formerly secret document obtained by the institute that shows the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has been looking at 27 route, station and technological alternatives to the current rail plans: a steel-on-steel elevated train system running from Kapolei to Ala Moana. Currently way over budget and way behind schedule, it has made it as far as the Middle Street area, while the most difficult portion of the route, Dillingham Boulevard and Downtown Honolulu, looms ahead.

In addition, the train still isn’t operational; the latest problem is its wheels are too thin for the tracks. Also, a new report shows ridership projections have been revised downward, but so far the HART chief, who recently talked about it publicly, has not made the details of that report public.

Enjoy the interview anyway.