Hawaii Topia

The proposed rail system that would link East Kapolei to Ala Moana is estimated to cost $4-5 billion to construct and another $1 billion to operate for the first decade. That’s $6 billion for a rail system that won’t even be fully operational until 2018. That being a government estimate I would say 2025 due to governments inability to get things done on schedule and budget. Not only that, Hawaii is famous for debating until the people get too tired or simply forget what the issue was. Even this week Governor Lingle will allow a referendum on weather or not Hawaii will get this system.

Personally, I do not know enough about the system to be for or against the system. I’m sure both sides have valid reasons to be for or against the proposed rail system. What I consider myself an expert in is H1  rush hour traffic. While the rail system would be a long-term project and solution, the Hawaii government has done very little to fix the short-term solutions to traffic jams. Recently, Honolulu was voted the worst city to drive in with the longest commutes beating out notorious cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Honolulu has the longest commute, but is only the 38th worst city when it comes to congestion. To me that means we have uneducated, terrible drivers and that needs to be addresses before we go to rail.

There are simple government solutions to fixing Hawaii traffic issues.

1. Drivers Education - Teach Hawaii drivers what a passing lane is. Hawaii drivers spread out on H1 and drive chaotic. You are more likely to pass on the right than on the left. This is why Honolulu has the longest commute of any other city, but not the most congested.
2. Car Pool Incentives - Most Hawaii drivers drive alone in a car that is capable to fit 4-6 passengers. I see Hummers and other gas guzzlers speeding down the road with one passenger 90% of the time. It may be your right to burn fuel inefficiently, but it is this reason why gas prices are so high and our roads are so full.
3. West Oahu Development - There are thousands of drivers heading from Honolulu to the west part of the island to work and even more heading from the west part of Oahu to Honolulu to work. There needs to be incentives for people to work where they live! Trying to live on the cheap and work where the higher pay is located is causing most of the problem. Develop western Oahu more through incentives to businesses and moving much of the government there.
4. Ticket Terrible Drivers - If a car is in the car pool lane without the required number of passengers ticket them. IF drivers are driving slow in the left lanes ticket them. There needs to be a paradigm shift on Oau that terrible driving is not acceptable.

While the rail system is a long-term solution and far down the road, there are short-term solutions that the government could implement to make morning and afternoon commutes for tolerable. I’m not optimistic that the Hawaii government will act to fix anything and is the reason we are in this mess in the first place.