Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced yesterday that the first part of the planned 20 mile transit route will finish by 2012, and break ground by 2009. The first portion of the planned transit route will be a 7-10 mile stretch connecting Kapolei to Waipahu (source: Honolulu Advertiser).

I don’t know how this will actually help our traffic problems in Hawaii. There is concern as to why Mufi did not start the transit route from the University of Hawaii or somewhere in town. The bulk of the traffic coming from the west side of the island is to get to town, mainly for work and school. By beginning to build the transit from Kapolei to Waipahu, and if lucky to Pearl City, doesn’t really alleviate the traffic problems.

I don’t really understand the logics of starting the mass transit from that area. I don’t think many, if any, people will be riding the transit in that 7-10 mile stretch. This means that the entire 20 mile stretch from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center will take more than a decade to complete, which also depends on the types of funds the city has left. And looking at how things are going right now, I don’t think the transit will be done until after 2017. This will leave people who actually NEED the transit to wait until it is completed.

Let’s hope Mufi starts the transit somewhere where people will actually take it to get to where they need to go. Kapolei to Waipahu just won’t attract enough people to utilize the transit.

• FREE Taco at Taco Bell TOMORROW
• Notice How Much Less Traffic There Is
• West Oahu Ferry Starting Services in the Summer of 2007

               
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