Steel rail transit costs less, but it's noisier

[Randy]

John wrote:

<quoted text>
That is easy to answer because you do not know what you are talking about. HOT lanes do not work in small areas. They just dump traffic into the already packed streets. Go to Miami and look at I-95, and their east west toll roads.

Non sequitur.

[Mike]

Why not scrap the entire rail because studies show that most people will not use it? For all you supporters who currently drive cars, are you willing to catch the bus for three months during workdays to test whether you're willing to give up your cars? If the answer is "no," then the rail is not for you and you should stop supporting it. Most people, like me, support it because we want others to use it so the roads can be clear for our cars, like today's Prince Kuhio Day no-traffic.

A better solution would be to build a bridge over water like the one at Ford Island. It would allow people who live on West Oahu to go to town and back. We can call it H-4. Since it's over water, it wouldn't take up much existing land. This would be a much better solution than rail.

And, it doesn't matter about the rising cost of gas. Let's face it: even if gas was $6 a gallon, you would still drive your car. Most people would just give up other things in their family budgets. The personal automobile is a virtual necessity these days. Rising gas and traffic will not change people's driving habits.

[John]

Randy wrote:

<quoted text>
Non sequitur.

Randy: What a fool you are. Answer the question with out telling a lie. What a fake you are

[ptosis]

http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/2581002

What is the noisiest city in the world? And no I'm not figuring in how many millions of people are affected at levels above the WHO limit.

Does YOUR town have a noise map?

Not found one yet for Honolulu, but Aiea is on the same island as 'Oahu and found info on just how noisey it really is.

Noise study based on "quiet" time - such as 3 AM in the morning. But since Aiea H1 built , unable to get reading of quiet time at 3 AM any longer due to constant automobile traffic 24/7

Interstate Route H-1 Noise Study Aiea Heights Drive to Maimakani Street Project No. HWY-L-05-06 Page 5 reads - "The resulting average noise level of 76.6 Leq was well above the 66 Leq noise abatement criteria established ... under the State Noise Abatement Policy." - HSLS H 363.742 Earth Tech [2006] "Interstate Route H-1 Noise Study"

Leq (24hr) The equivalent continuous noise level during a 24 hour period, usually from midnight to midnight.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1884...

[Lork]

John wrote:

<quoted text>
That is easy to answer because you do not know what you are talking about. HOT lanes do not work in small areas. They just dump traffic into the already packed streets. Go to Miami and look at I-95, and their east west toll roads.

Hmm, food for thought.

Hawaii certainly does not have that kind of expanse, and penny-pinchers and cheap-skates will grin and bear it clogging up King, School, Beretania, etc.

Not sure if that's so much a vote against HOT or a vote for rail, likely not that latter since Honolulu is no way near the like of LA, Boston, etc. Then again, DC is similar is size and scope and their Metro kicks ass.

I don't know what opinion to have...I give up.

[Must Vote]

Randy wrote:

<quoted text>
Mark,
If TheTrain does go through, I'd like it to at least be on rubber wheels.
However, my first choice is NO rail period!
IT COST TOO MUCH, DOES TOO LITTLE, MAKES TOO MUCH NOISE and, DEPRIVES OAHU OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT REAL TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS.

One way to stop the mayor or at least slow him down is to get the Independent City Auditor to examine the Mass transit program.

I suggest all those who want to include HOT lane for Mass transit consideration, send a letter to the City council to get the City auditor to analyze the system.

Below is a sample letter which you can modify to suit your style:

To. Ms. Barbara Marshall
Chairman and Presiding Officer,

In the November 2002 General Election, the voters demanded accountability in city government when it overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the city charter creating an independent City Auditor. The City Auditor is part of the City Council.

The Office of the City Auditor's mission is to promote accountability, fiscal integrity and openness in city government. The Office of the City Auditor will examine the use of public funds, evaluate programs and activities, and provide timely, accurate and objective analyses, options and recommendations to decision makers in order to ensure that the city's resources are being used to effectively and efficiently meet the needs of the public.

Mayor Hannemann insists that the City proceed with building the fixed rail mass transit system at a cost of $5.0 Billion, explaining that rail will not necessarily provide traffic relief to West and Central Oahu commuters during peak traffic hours.

U.H. Professor Panos Prevedouros and sixteen Graduate and undergraduate students, specializing in Transportation Studies, completed a study entitled “Transportation Alternatives Analysis for mitigating traffic Congestion between Leeward Oahu and Honolulu”. A briefing of the study was presented on 25 March 2008 by the professor to members of the State Legislature, with one or two City council members present.

The study essentially states that one form of a mass transit system, a HOT Lane highway which is used by buses and high occupancy vehicles,(occupancy vehicles would be conditionally allowed), would cost only $1.0 Billion to build and that travel time from West Oahu to Honolulu would be shortened by 34 percent as compared with a 6 percent reduction for Rail. The Rail system will serve 7.4 percent of Oahu's commuting public.

The majority of the population on Oahu prefer the HOT Lane system based of lower cost and reduced commuter travel time and reject the Rail system. Despite these favorable commuter benefits from the HOT Lane, the mayor insisted this morning in the media that he rejects the HOT Lane system and will quickly move forward with building the $5.0 Billion fixed rail system.

Accordingly, I request that you, as Council Chairman, ask that the Independent City Auditor formally examine the use of public funds regarding this Oahu Mass Transit System program, and determine if the city's resources , General Excise Tax and property taxes, are being used to effectively and efficiently meet the needs of the public.

Lastly, Chairman Marshall, the Oahu voters demand that this issue be voted upon, for or against, during this upcoming election in November.