Comments on: Highways and Rapid Transit: Should They Go Together? http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/14/highways-and-rapid-transit-should-they-go-together/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sarah Goodyear http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/14/highways-and-rapid-transit-should-they-go-together/comment-page-1/#comment-31441 Sarah Goodyear Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:33:53 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=11001#comment-31441 Thanks, Beebler. That's really helpful. It was clear to me from just the little research that I was able to do that this is an incredibly complex issue -- and the reality is that Hawaii gets precious little attention from the mainland/mainstream media. We'll dig deeper and keep an eye on this story. Thanks, Beebler. That’s really helpful. It was clear to me from just the little research that I was able to do that this is an incredibly complex issue — and the reality is that Hawaii gets precious little attention from the mainland/mainstream media.

We’ll dig deeper and keep an eye on this story.

]]> By: Beebler http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/14/highways-and-rapid-transit-should-they-go-together/comment-page-1/#comment-31431 Beebler Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:31:19 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/?p=11001#comment-31431 The Honolulu rail issue is quite controversial. For one thing, Hawaii has financial problems and building a system like this there is expensive. Secondly, it is not being properly promoted by the Mayor and is coming off as shady to many, especially because he is not open to alternative ideas in tech or routes. The new proposal with a portion at-grade will reach more into the core of the current downtown area, but the distance between the original and new routes are not that far from each other. What the new one would do, however, is save money, take away the issue about having an elevated rail track in downtown that would separate the buildings from the water, and would bring it to a more respectful street-level in front of the historic Iolani Palace (old capitol). This comes at the expense of speed and interference with car traffic, though. A problem with Honolulu rail in general is that the lifestyle of residents is a driving one. To add to that, current and future developments are being done in a spread out/suburban fashion which promotes car use, rather than rail. Many don't want to drive to the station to park their cars, ride the rail only to have to walk or catch the bus on the other end. If the city truly wants to make rail usable, they need to promote transit-oriented development. Much of West Oahu is a clean slate, yet they are choosing to create suburbs instead. The Honolulu rail issue is quite controversial. For one thing, Hawaii has financial problems and building a system like this there is expensive. Secondly, it is not being properly promoted by the Mayor and is coming off as shady to many, especially because he is not open to alternative ideas in tech or routes.

The new proposal with a portion at-grade will reach more into the core of the current downtown area, but the distance between the original and new routes are not that far from each other. What the new one would do, however, is save money, take away the issue about having an elevated rail track in downtown that would separate the buildings from the water, and would bring it to a more respectful street-level in front of the historic Iolani Palace (old capitol). This comes at the expense of speed and interference with car traffic, though.

A problem with Honolulu rail in general is that the lifestyle of residents is a driving one. To add to that, current and future developments are being done in a spread out/suburban fashion which promotes car use, rather than rail. Many don’t want to drive to the station to park their cars, ride the rail only to have to walk or catch the bus on the other end. If the city truly wants to make rail usable, they need to promote transit-oriented development. Much of West Oahu is a clean slate, yet they are choosing to create suburbs instead.

]]>