It's Time to Scrap the Train

The headlines in today's newspaper boldly states: "Transit system likely won't improve traffic".

Nothing new that we haven't been warned about before. Let's face it, the $6.4 billion Honolulu mass transit fixed rail project is nothing but a "make work for unionized construction workers" project and a sad excuse to sell surrounding properties along the projected rail route to highly funded and well connected engineering firms and developers. Much of this at the expense of current property owners, taxpayers and commuters.

Today's headline article in the Honolulu Advertiser proclaims:

"It's unlikely Honolulu's planned $3.7 billion [sic] transit system will affect deteriorating peak-hour traffic conditions along the H-1 corridor, according to city projections.

Potential gains in transit ridership are expected to be eclipsed by the added traffic that will come with rapid population growth in West O'ahu.

Drivers commuting from the west to jobs Downtown will face significantly more hours on the road in 20 years, even if the transit system launches full service as planned in 2017."

Essentially the proposed rail line will not keep up with growth on Oahu's leeward coast and the increased vehicular traffic that growth will bring.

So why keep this very expensive train project going if the projections are so bleak? It's time to cut our losses and cancel the mass transit project, cancel the tax surcharge and refund it all back to the taxpayers. Stop the Mufi train today!