By Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann
August 13, 2007

The city and county of Honolulu is embarking on the largest public works project in Hawaii’s history – construction of a several billion dollar fixed guideway mass transit system along the 23-mile southern coastline of the island of Oahu.

This comes more than 40 years after the idea of a rail system was first broached as a promising solution to Oahu’s transportation needs and more than 15 years after the Honolulu city council narrowly defeated a transit measure and walked away from $618 million in federal funding

We are also fully engaged in upgrading our award-winning bus system, launching a new commuter ferry, enhancing bike and foot paths and taking a multi-modal approach to transportation. While I am an unequivocal champion of mass transit, I believe just as strongly in the power of offering people choices.

Soon after taking office in January 2005, we took the initiative of discussing with state and congressional leaders our interest in working with them to find transportation solutions for the most populous county in Hawaii. We knew a dedicated local finding source was a key part of the initiative, so we immediately began collaborating with the state legislature to establish a funding source to develop a high capacity transit system on Oahu. As you can imagine, the prospects for passage of a tax increase were dim, but my administration worked very hard in generating public support to ask the legislature to let the counties impose a half-percent general excise tax surcharge, with proceeds devoted exclusively to funding mass transit system. Collection of that surcharge began this January and is projected to generate $160 million this year.

Having successfully met the challenges of securing a local funding source, our attention turned to conducting an alternatives analysis, evaluating a range of transit solutions for Oahu and building consensus for a single, locally preferred transit alternative. This process is mandated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and is a requirement for receiving federal transit funding.

Armed with transportation studies developed over three decades, and resolved to make headway this time around, in one short, intense year we conducted more than 200 public meetings to provide information responding to critics and answering skeptics who believed that a mass transit for Honolulu was simply not possible.

As mayor, I felt it was important to lead the public involvement effort. Regardless of whether a group had three or three hundred, if they wanted a presentation on mass transit, we were there. I was personally there for most of them, and members of my administration or technical consultants for the project were at each meeting

In late October, we sent to the city council and released to the general public the Alternatives Analysis report that summarized all our findings. The council reviewed the report and held additional public hearings before selecting a fixed guideway transit system as the locally preferred alternative (LPA). In January, I signed the selection into law; the first bill enacted this year.

Work on our mass transit system is continuing, with the focus on completing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and preparation of an application to the FTA for consent to enter into preliminary engineering. Our ambitious goal is to break ground on the first construction segment in 2009, with completion in 2012. By 2018 we expect to complete what were calling the mass transit first project, as 20 mile segments from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, a fast growing population center and the latter an important stop for jobs, commerce, and transfers to other public transportation. Estimated capital cost in 2007 dollars is $3.7 billion.

When it comes on line, Honolulu fixed guideway system will be fully integrated in our city’s nationally recognized, award winning bus system, a demonstration ferry system that we’ll launch this summer and our ever growing system of bike footpaths

My administration is also preparing for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). In brief, TOD is the modern name for compact, mixed-use developments near transit facilities and high-quality walking environments. These communities blend a mix of uses-housing, shopping, employment and recreation, enabling residents to live. Work shopping, employment and recreation, enabling residents to live, work and play in their neighborhoods, free dependence on automobile.

The benefits of TOD have been demonstrated across the county and include: providing transportation choices to walk, ride transit and bicycle instead of driving; increasing public safety by creating active community centers and reducing chances for car accidents; increasing disposable household income by reducing transportation cost; reducing air pollution and energy consumption; creating neighborhoods where residents have increase opportunities to meet their neighbors and develop a sense of community; and providing a mixture of affordable and market-rate housing, all with easy access to transit.

With such vast potential, it’s important that we approach TOD in a coordinated, thoughtful manner. Our city transportation and planning departments are collaborating on this issue. And we’re reprising public involvement by including neighborhoods and the people who live there is planning for TOD.

Getting people out of their cars and into buses and trains, and bikes and ferries is a challenge. But by offering viable, reliable transportation choices, I believe we will do much to improve the quality of life here in the city and county of Honolulu, the 13th largest municipality in the Untied States, with population of nearly a million people.

Relief cannot come soon enough. For so many of us, traffic remains a huge drag on our quality of life, a looming impediment to our now thriving economy and a detriment to a clean, sustainable natural environment. My administration is committed to making Honolulu the best place to live, work and raises our families.