Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board Opposes Rail Project
News Release
On Wednesday, October 23rd, the Makakilo-Kapolei – Honokai Hale Neighborhood board passed the following resolution by a vote 6 to 2 in favor of OPPOSING the Honolulu Rail project:
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RESOLUTION OF THE MAKAKILO-KAPOLEI-HONOKAI HALE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD OPPOSING THE HONOLULU RAIL PROJECT
WHEREAS, this community board is concerned that the current route for Rail will not properly service Makakilo, Kapolei, the Ewa Plain and Leeward Coast residents, and
WHEREAS, this community board has significant concerns regarding the financial aspects of Rail and the lack of accountability to the public, and
WHEREAS, this community board is concerned about any diversion of funds from TheBus, a system known nationally as a success, into a system to support Rail, and
WHEREAS, this community board is concerned about the cost and noise level of a steel wheel on steel rail system and the fact that less costly and quieter options were not considered, and that schools, businesses and homes located along the Rail route will be “negatively”
impacted by the level of noise, and
WHEREAS, this community board is extremely concerned about the traffic conditions during the construction phase and after completion of the Rail project, and that not enough is being done to pro-actively mitigate traffic conditions, and that some of the board requests for
additional pro-active measures appear to be ignored, and
WHEREAS, this community board is concerned that with all the new development projects along the Rail route, a freeway Level Of Service (LOS) D or better cannot be attained during rush hour and that not enough is being done to pro-actively mitigate the current or anticipated
additional traffic flow, and
WHEREAS, this community board believes the Rail system was sold to “voters” as a “traffic solution,” when it now appears to be primarily a “land development tool,” and that expert, census, and government survey data clearly show that the Rail ridership will not be at the level
that the city anticipates, resulting in the system being heavily subsidized, ultimately costing the taxpayers in the form of user fees and taxes; therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board states its opposition to the Honolulu Rail project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the City & County of Honolulu, all members of the Honolulu City Council, the Director of Planning and Permitting, the Director of Transportation Services; the City Planning Commission,
the Board of Water Supply Manager and Chief Engineer, the State Office of Planning, the State Land Use Commission, the State Director of the Department of Transportation, Leeward and Central Oahu legislators, and all members of Leeward and Central Oahu Neighborhood
Boards along with ALL neighborhood board chairs.
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For specific questions or concerns regarding this resolution, the community is welcome to contact the Board Chair Evelyn Souza esouza_khmnb34@yahoo.com or the Transportation Chair / Board Secretary D. Kalani Capelouto cappy777@hawaii.rr.com
We respectfully ask that ALL of the other Neighborhood Boards on Oahu consider passing similar resolutions, as a show of support for our “local” community (the Second City), Leeward Coast, and outlying adjacent communities.
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News Release from Kapolei Neighborhood Board October 2, 2013
Monday, October 1st, 2013, the Transportation Committee from Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale passed a resolution “opposing the Honolulu Rail Project”.
This resolution continues on to entire neighborhood board for a vote on 23 October, 2013:
RESOLUTION OF THE MAKAKILO-KAPOLEI-HONOKAI HALE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD OPPOSING THE HONOLULU RAIL PROJECT
WHEREAS, this community board is concerned that the current route for Rail will not properly service Makakilo, Kapolei, the Ewa Plain and Leeward Coast residents, and
WHEREAS, this community board has significant concerns regarding the financial aspects of Rail and the lack of accountability to the public, and
WHEREAS, this community board is concerned about any diversion of funds from TheBus, a system known nationally as a success, into a system to support Rail, and
WHEREAS, this community board is concerned about the cost and noise level of a steel wheel on steel rail system and the fact that less costly and quieter options were not considered, and that schools, businesses and homes located along the Rail route will be “negatively” impacted by the level of noise, and
WHEREAS, this community board is extremely concerned about the traffic conditions during the construction phase and after completion of the Rail project, and that not enough is being done to pro-actively mitigate traffic conditions, and that some of the board requests for additional pro-active measures appear to be ignored, and
WHEREAS, this community board is concerned that with all the new development projects along the Rail route, a freeway Level Of Service (LOS) D or better cannot be attained during rush hour and that not enough is being done to pro-actively mitigate the current or anticipated additional traffic flow, and
WHEREAS, this community board believes the Rail system was sold to “voters” as a “traffic solution,” when it now appears to be primarily a “land development tool,” and that expert, census, and government survey data clearly show that the Rail ridership will not be at the level that the city anticipates, resulting in the system being heavily subsidized, ultimately costing the taxpayers in the form of user fees and taxes; therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board states its opposition to the Honolulu Rail project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the City & County of Honolulu, all members of the Honolulu City Council, the Director of Planning and Permitting, the Director of Transportation Services; the City Planning Commission, the Board of Water Supply Manager and Chief Engineer, the State Office of Planning, the State Land Use Commission, the State Director of the Department of Transportation, Leeward and Central Oahu legislators, and all members of Leeward and Central Oahu Neighborhood Boards along with all neighborhood board chairs.
Resolution Passed out of Committee by a vote of 2 to 1 (D. Kalani Capelouto, Thad Spreg – For), (Frank Genadio – Against). Resolution transferred forward to the NB # 34 chair, for inclusion during the next board meeting, under regular business (regular action item).
Submitted by: D. Kalani Capelouto, Transportation Chair
Reviewed by: E. Souza, Chair