why rail is dumb

[mermaid53]

Interestingly, it took but one trip on H3 to quiet most down. It opened up a brand new door for living options to where one was employed. With travel time cut in half...many gov't and military people moved to the east side from Pearl Harbor and Hickam side. Impacted the real estate economy big time on the east side bc of the military/gov't housing allowance.

Many locals of all colors couldn't afford housing in Kailua, what was once a small beach community now turned into Kailufornia. Other neighboring towns property also increased. Some sold their homes to take advantage of that. Some split their home in 2 or added on to get rental income.

Didn't mean to go off topic...my point was I don't believe many of us foresaw the full spectrum of how H3 would impact the east side even though there were many other positive benefits. Once there's that level of change/progression, we can't go back.

[kalakoa]

If the people of Oahu want to build a rail system, they should pay for it themselves.

[mermaid53]

No argument on that one kalakoa....although many there don't want it.

[kalakoa]

many there don't want it

Ah, but that's "their" problem.

[kalakoa]

http://www.kitv.com/story/35299676/lates...y-for-rail

The recovery plan for the city's $8 billion train doesn't mention the hotel tax as a new funding source ... the bill with its restrictions throws off the city's budget by 34 million and will be a double whammy for Oahu residents who will be taxed on both ends. Others question whether its poor public policy to enact a tax on the visitor industry without getting input from those affected.

http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/news/stat...in-project

...a less-expensive plan to end the concrete pathway near Aloha Tower and eliminate seven stations along the route ... could cut rail ridership by about 60 percent. the project’s costs soared from $5.8 billion to $8.2 billion ... the project is estimated to cost as much as $10 billion. The rail's current budget is about $6.8 billion.

[Midnight Rambler]

Typical HTH/WHT reporting. The report includes "Plan B", ending at Aloha Tower, as an alternative and points out that it would be terrible, strongly recommending <b>against</b> it, calling the original plan "the only viable Project alternative from a financial, ridership, and operationally practical perspective." It would have no stations between Middle St. and downtown, and no park & ride garage at Pearl City, both of which cut down severely on the usefulness of it.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2017/05/01...very-plan/