Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Hawaiian governor caves, lets rail bill pass
Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii had threatened to veto a bill allowing Honolulu to build an expensive rail transit line, but in a last-minute compromise she let the bill become law without her signature.
Lingle was never worried about the ridiculously high costs of rail, which would be paid for by a county sales tax. She just didn't want the state to have to pick up the tab for collecting the tax. When the legislature agreed to amend the bill to require the county to collect the tax, Lingle went along.
Honolulu has one of the most impressive transit systems in the country. It carries more than 5 percent of all regional travel, which is more than in any other U.S. urban area except New York. For comparison, Washington's is 4 percent, Portland's is about 2 percent, and San Diego's is less than 1.5 percent.
If the experience of other regions is a guide, building rail transit in Honolulu will ruin this success story. Transit's share of travel is likely to decline and the region pours its resources into the rail line and cuts back on bus service and raises fares. It is too bad pork barrel is allowed to ruin a good thing for low-income transit users.
Lingle was never worried about the ridiculously high costs of rail, which would be paid for by a county sales tax. She just didn't want the state to have to pick up the tab for collecting the tax. When the legislature agreed to amend the bill to require the county to collect the tax, Lingle went along.
Honolulu has one of the most impressive transit systems in the country. It carries more than 5 percent of all regional travel, which is more than in any other U.S. urban area except New York. For comparison, Washington's is 4 percent, Portland's is about 2 percent, and San Diego's is less than 1.5 percent.
If the experience of other regions is a guide, building rail transit in Honolulu will ruin this success story. Transit's share of travel is likely to decline and the region pours its resources into the rail line and cuts back on bus service and raises fares. It is too bad pork barrel is allowed to ruin a good thing for low-income transit users.
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