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Tsarbomba
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AkamaiLocal wrote: <quoted text>
Finally, regarding Tsarbomba, he's proving once again that he's not really interested in finding the best traffic solutions for Oahu.
He's only interested in trying to convince everyone about how smart he is, but is only succeeding in proving the EXACT OPPOSITE with his lame arguments! Local Afar,I think you can now see who's whining here. Even in a post to you, AL's gotta throw me in on the loop. They use a lot of descriptive words on how my arguments far flat, etc etc, yet they never really just address the points I make. AL, this has nothing to do with proving how smart I am. If you need to hit below the belt, so be it. Just shows your lack of capacity to discuss issues. If you have something to discuss about transit, great, if you just need to reply to make another jab, don't expect me to bother with you.
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AkamaiLocal
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Tsarbomba wrote: <quoted text>
.... if you just need to reply to make another jab, don't expect me to bother with you. Tsarbomba, Is that a promise?? If it is, here's another jab at you: "Tsarbomba, you're nothing but a punch-drunk blow hard, who thinks he knows it all!" There, now keep your promise and stop bothering (BTW,good choice of words) me, and the rest of the sincere posters on these forums.
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Local Afar
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Tsarbomba wrote: <quoted text>
Please review the postings, these pro-HOT folks are hellbent on the personal attacks.
Is there a particular idea you wanted feedback on? I'm all for improvements in the current system but I don't believe Oahu's quality of life will improve without a major investment in transit infrastructure. I know you dislike elevated structures but the only other option is to go underground and that is far most cost prohibitive. It's hard to ignore personal attacks, but to react to them distracts us from the core issues. I think the City is off track. Voters have been demanding affordable and rapid solutions to traffic congestion and bottlenecks. Those should have been Priority One for Oahu. It seems they are not. The FTA and DOT have made resolving congestion and bottleneck issues a top priority for US cities, including those with extensive rail systems. They are the "experts" who should be called in. You can review their findings over the internet. Huge construction projects are far down on their list of solutions. They could examine Oahu's particular congestion problems, get input from all relevant parties, and make recommendations accordingly. If PR people are to be funded at taxpayer expense, they should be able to present all these recommendations in simple language, with attendant cost estimates, for officials and the public to review. The brouhaha over mass transit has distracted us from making congestion the top priority -- but it is still very important. Efficient and attractive mass transit will get more people out of their cars, which will help alleviate some of the congestion and bottlnecks, as well as reducing oil dependence and pollution. Tempers flare because the Mayor insists on sticking to the time limited ordinance, and limited fixed guideway options. This intensifies the pressure to choose one side or another. People definitley want resolution to traffic congestion. Many are in favor of a good mass transit system, but they don't want to blow 5 billion dollars on a risky venture like the current proposed rail project. I can see rail in Hawaii later on, sure. Luckily we don't NEED it now. The freeways are not always congested, though we haven't made the basic improvements yet. There's time to plan more carefully and thoroughly. Underground routes? I don't know enough about it. I'm sure there are experts on the subject who could make an evaluation. Elevated routes? A bridge maybe, but not over highly populated land. Why not shift the focus to releiving bottlenecks and congestion first? At the same time, make necessary infrastructure repairs, streamline and improve the Bus system, and start building protected bikelanes, walkways, and pedestrian bridges. Evaluate how they impact our immediate problems, and go from there. Residents want them, and they are needed in any case. Both rail and hotlane advocates have good points. I can see rail in Hawaii's future, and wider, more dedicated lanes, even toll lanes -- but not as currently conceived.
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Kirkland
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Trains in Oahu would be practically of little if no use at all most of the day, all night, and on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. Oahu does not have the population density of Chicago or New York so that even on rush hours Oahu trains would all be half-full. When traffic is light, trains are of little if no use because most who take the bus won't have no more need of riding the train. On the other hand, buses are useful 24/7. Considering the billions and billions needed to build a rail transit system and the millions and millions to maintain them, a rail transit system is not worth the expense and the suffering of the people of Oahu from an increase in the GET and property taxes to fund the rail system. The choice is very clear. Do we go for a system that is prohibitively costly, won't get rid of traffic congestion and is useless most of the day and all night and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays or a system that is less costly, useful 24/7 and would get rid of traffic congestion. The choice is very clear. Stop the rail project.
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Local Afar
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Tsarbomba wrote: <quoted text>
I do find a bit of irony, you're in Sweden or perhaps lived in Sweden at one point. You acknowledge their great solutions and infrastructure, yet you don't want them implemented on Oahu? Too bad we can't bring all interested Oahu taxpayers to Scandinavia on a junket :) They have great solutions, including rail, but they build on infrastructure that has been around since Adam. Buses, trams, trains, protected walkways and bikeways, pedestrian overpasses, roundabouts, huge parks all around the city to walk or ride in, car free neighborhoods and school areas -- they have all been part of Scandinavian life for some time. They are highly supported by government, user fees (twice what Hawaii charges) and auto taxes. Parking near the city core is scarce and expensive. The tram system is widespread, but old fashioned. They upgrade carriages every once in awhile, but the rails are still screechy and there are overhead wires. I would not want to live near it. Because they have been using the same technology for so long, repairs and parts are standardized.(City rail in many US cities has been hampered by a lack of available parts down the line, a real money eater.) There are speed trains used by commuters. They travel through open land, with few stops along the way, so you get to the city core from the burbs quickly. There are bike and walkways paralleling the tracks at a safe distance, where people bike, rollerblade, skateboard and jog to school or work. The area where trains, trams and buses have their yards is a tangled ugly place. Buses are within walking distance of nearly every neighborhood. They arrive frequently and dependably during the work week. Schedules are posted, electronically in the city, and wait areas are sheltered and well lit. Buses have good turn-in areas. Most kids here walk, bike or take the bus to school and it is safe for them to do so. I see very few teenagers driving. Public transport, bikers and pedestrians have the right of way. Cars slow down as they approach crosswalks, and give way to buses, with religious ferver. The buses are comfortable, but there's no AC -- uncomfortable in the summer. Oahu is a small island though. We don't need massive rail there. Once you go 30 miles or so, you're at your destination. We could manage with a great network of modern buses, shuttles, bikeways and walkways. That being said, I would love to ride a simple open air electronic carrier along a fixed guideway from Waipahu to Haleiwa, or from Kapolei to Kaena Point. Maybe some day.
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Local Afar
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SwedishMeatball wrote: <quoted text>
Where in the hell are we going to get the land? Are you going to give up YOUR Oahu residence to accommodate Rail or a HOT lane? Are YOU going to get out of your car forvere? Hell No. Are you going to live. work, shop, play in your own neighboorhood for life? Hell no. Solutions are needed NOW, not 10 years from now when there are an addtional 50,000 vehicles traveling from West Oahu towards Diamond Head. Have an idea how to fix the CURENT problem before tackling a serious traffic gridlock issue 5 years from now? How about applying for Swedish citizenship? Oh Meatball, I have missed you. Doggone, maybe some day you'll actually read what I say. Meantime, cheers!
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VoteNeededOnRail
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Tsarbomba wrote: <quoted text>
There's not a single shred of anything indicating the rail at $9 billion... You are wrong Tsarbombed. PLEASE read the Honolulu A.A. report from Nov. 2006 by Parsons Brinkerhoff on transit cost. I will spell it out for you- -Section 5, Table 5-1 Capital Cost ESTIMATES for rail:(2006 dollars) The full route, Kalaeloa, Kamokila, Airport, to a Waikiki branch- is $6,075,000,000 billion!($6.075 billion is very close to $9 billion) Then go to Section 5, Table 5-3: The Annual Operating & Maintenance Costs (2006 dollars) and add $2.178 BILLION (this is only over 8 years of operation & maintenance costs) Table 5-3 shows $83.1 MILLION, per year, for operation & maintenance costs for the fixed guideway, every year. Table 5-3 also shows $189.2 MILLION, per year, for operation & maintenance costs for the the bus, every year. If added together you get a total of $272.3 Million per year for operation & maintenance costs for the the rail & bus, every year. You must add this cost to the total transit build cost of $6.075 billion. Now add $2.178 BILLION for 8 years of operation & maintenance cost, plus $6.075 billion to build the transit=$8.253 Billion $8.253 Billion is in 2006 dollars in the city AA report. I do not know how much $8.253 Billion (in 2006 dollars) is in 2008 dollars. The Parsons Brinkerhoff AA report IS indicating that the rail will be near $9 billion by year 2026.(8 years after it is open)
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Blu Ray
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Mufi has already admitted to business owners that the real benefit of the rail is not to decrease traffic (which it won't), but to provide potential urban growth which will benefit business owners.
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Former pro railer
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Tsarbomba wrote: <quoted text>
So you've just verified you're being a lemming, not really knowing whether the AA really mentions about the H3 or not. I told you I haven't found anything in the AA mentioning about the cost of H3 vs managed lanes in 2006 dollars. And the best you can do is say ask Slater? Better yet, why doesn't Slater have footnotes to point out where his source is? If he's so confident he's right, why make things ambiguous, just list where it was found on what page in the AA. Discredited indeed, I look forward to you giving me that page. I really would like to examine that comparison, to see what details have been purposefully left out. I've read all your posts and have concluded that you are a moron.
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OmomoME
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Here we go again. Why is it that the only alternative to rail by those who fear is to "ADD" MORE CARS" by "BUILIDNG MORE ROADS."
We should be getting away from our dependence on foreign oil. Do any of you know how much the price of gas has risen? Or do you think it doesn't matter as long as you have your gas guzzlers. Remember, we live on an island, there's only so much roads that can be built!
"ADDING MORE CARS" by "BUILDING MORE ROADS." is just plain stupid!
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Commuter
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ipj737 wrote: <quoted text>
Yeah, yeah, yeah... we all know HOT lanes are a ridiculous option... just as ridiculous as rail. But while they tout HOT lanes as the "better option", their main agenda TODAY is getting rail on the ballot - exactly where it should be. Once rail is off the drawing table, we have 50+ other options other than HOT lanes to look at and implement for a fraction of the cost. "Stop Rail Now is scheduling Petition Teams for many event gatherings this week and weekend. We invite your energetic participation in the petition campaign to Let the Voters Decide with their own votes whether they want trains on rail in Honolulu. Call or email StopRailNow.com to sign up for a team and shift that suits you best, wherever you are on Oahu! The Stop Rail Now teams have T-shirts and signs to lead the way to the petitions. You can also purchase T-shirts to help this worthy effort. Please make time for one of the events this week to sign the petition and help collect signatures while enjoying the fun and food at the event! We need your help to ensure enough signatures to secure a Vote in November!"
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OmomoME
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Can those against rail, please list these 50 alternatives that does not include:
"ADDING MORE CARS by BUILDING MORE ROADS."
Mahalo.
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Tsarbomba
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Former pro railer wrote: <quoted text>
I've read all your posts and have concluded that you are a moron. Good for you, and you're a bigger moron for posting nothing. What other user names will you be posting under next time?
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