Lawmakers not surprised by steel wheel pick

Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Vol. 13, Issue 54 - Saturday, February 23, 2008

Star-Bulletin staff

Now that an expert panel has suggested the technology for Honolulu's $3.8 billion mass transit system, it is up to the City Council to decide whether to move forward with the steel-wheel-on-steel-track train proposal.

Reaction among councilmembers to yesterday's decision by the Independent Technology Selection Panel was mixed, with concerns raised about costs, reliability and transparency in the selection process.

"I don't think the decision was a surprise, because I think we've seen nationwide and worldwide that steel rail systems are really what's been successful and what's been useful," said Councilman Todd Apo, the Council's budget chairman. "The point I heard them all make today is we need to focus on cost and reliability because we can't build a failed system."

Transportation Chairman Nestor Garcia said he trusts the decision from the panel and is looking forward to further discussions. Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall, an opponent of the mass transit project, said she also looks forward to questioning members of the expert panel.

"To some degree it doesn't really matter what technology it is because I don't think we should build the project," Marshall said. "For me the selection of steel on steel, I don't think it was a surprise, but I'm not prepared to say it's horrible or it's wonderful."

Other options the technology panel considered were rubber-tire-on-concrete systems, monorail, magnetic levitation and specialized trail control systems.

Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, a critic of rail, said she will continue to push for other options, particularly a rubber-tire-on-concrete bus system.

"It's less than half the cost, and it's more practical," Kobayashi said, noting that the Council still reserves the right to make the ultimate selection.

Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz, who fought to have the expert panel's meetings open to the public, criticized the decision as "predetermined," with little public input.

"The mayor had already publicly stated before, on countless occasions, that that was his choice," Dela Cruz said. "I guess, come hell or high water, that's what's happening.

"They only met twice," he said of the panel. "There was very little public discussion over the pros and cons of each technology. I think it would be hard to believe that it was transparent process."

The panel, which was approved by the City Council, had been criticized by some for being composed primarily of rail experts.

Panel Chairman Ron Tober denied that the outcome was predetermined.

"No one told us what the answer to the question was," Tober said at a news conference. "We were told that we needed to take an independent look at this, and that's what we've done.

"There's no personal gain for any of us. No one instructed us what to choose."

Still, Kobayashi and Dela Cruz, along with Councilmen Charles Djou and Romy Cachola, introduced resolutions yesterday aimed at providing the Council and the public with more information on what specifications will be required for projects related to the transit system.

State lawmakers, who had first feared the city was not moving quickly enough to build the transit system, said they were pleased with the decision because it signifies progress.

"Congratulations to them. I think the process worked and they picked a technology, and now they can move ahead," said Sen. J. Kalani English, transportation chairman.

"If they came to an agreement with the technology and the administration and the Council are on the same page, then there shouldn't be impediments to moving it ahead," English (D, East Maui-Lanai-Molokai) added.

His House counterpart, Rep. Joe Souki (D, Waihee-Wailuku), said he had no objections to the decision.

"They supposedly had a bunch of experts selecting, so who am I to doubt those wise sages?" he said.

Lawmakers, who in 2005 added a half-percentage-point surcharge to the general excise tax on Oahu to help pay for the transit system, had considered a measure this year to suspend the surcharge unless the city met certain deadlines. The measure died in committee.

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa said a steel system will be expensive.

"The cost of construction is always dwarfed by the operation and maintenance of a steel system," said Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli-Makua). "I would be very interested in knowing if the GET increase is to be extended for the life of the system.

"I don't know if the Legislature will have to do something. My question is, How are they going to pay for it?"

Star-Bulletin reporters Richard Borreca and Laurie Au contributed to this report.

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Original article: http://starbulletin.com/print/2005.php?fr=/2008/02/23/news/story02.html

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