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Mayoral Debate Airs Transportation Disagreements
Honolulu Advertiser, October 29, 2008
“Mayor Mufi Hannemann defended the city's $3.7 billion mass-transit project last night during a live televised debate while his challenger, City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, characterized the project as too risky given the economic uncertainty facing the nation…”
Full Article…

Honolulu Transportation: Solutions, Not Slogans
Hawaii Reporter, October 28, 2008
“The EZ-Way Proposal by Kobayashi and Prevedorous is just that: An easy way to avoid serious discussion about realistic solutions for Honolulu's transportation issues...”
Full Story…

Honolulu Traffic Congestion Worst in Nation; L.A. takes a Back Seat!
Honolulu Advertiser, October 23, 2008
“Honolulu's traffic congestion remained the worst in the country, according to the annual report by INRIX, with Los Angeles in second place…”
See Full Story…

Hawaii Business Roundtable Supports Oahu Rail Transit Project
KGMB Channel 9 News, October 22, 2008
“The Hawaii Business Roundtable supports the rail mass transit system and a "YES" vote on the ballot question. The Roundtable conducted an assessment of the City's projections of the cost to build, maintain and operate the proposed steel wheel on steel rail system…”
See Full Article…

Hawaii Residents Approve of Rail Transit Plan Poll Says
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Oct. 20, 2008
“HAWAII residents indicated in recent polls that they approve of the city's plan for rail transit between Kapolei and Ala Moana, a goal that has been proposed for the past three decades. Voters should end the continuing debate by approving a ballot item that will end the debate and authorize the city to go ahead with the important project…”
Full Article…

Hannemann Slams Kobayashi's Transit Plan
KGMB Channel 9 News, October 16, 2008
“You don't put together a plan that's going to spend three billion dollars in three weeks. I came from the biz world. I spoke the corporate CEOS this morning. You just don't do that," said Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann…”
See Video Clip…

Funding uncertain for Kobayashi's $2.5B Oahu highway plan
Honolulu Advertiser, October 16, 2008
“So far, both the state Legislature and Hawai'i's congressional delegation have supported building a rail system in Honolulu. Whether those lawmakers would back Kobayashi's bus plan was not clear yesterday…”
Full Article…

Kobayashi's last-minute bus-system plan is unrealistic
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, October 16, 2008
“In a home-stretch desperation move in Honolulu's mayoral race, candidate Ann Kobayashi is proposing a system she calls "rubber tire on concrete," a euphemism for buses and cars traveling on a new set of roads. The proposal is intended to block Mayor Mufi Hannemann's plans for a rail system with little chance that a different system would receive federal support…”
Full Article…

Virtual visualization of Rail Transit projected route
KHON2, October 14, 2008
“This animated fly through gives us an idea of what we would see if we were riding on the rail transit system...”
Full Story…

Hannemann, Kobayashi Debate Mass Transit
Honolulu Advertiser, October 15, 2008
“In their first debate since the Sept. 20 primary election, City Councilmember Ann H. Kobayashi and Mayor Mufi Hannemann this morning sparred over a variety of municipal issues, most notably on the contrasts between their mass transit plans…”
Full Article…

"Nothing New" in Kobayashi/ Prevedouros Proposed Plan
Honolulu Advertiser, Oct. 15, 2008
“Rep. Kirk Caldwell, who has long favored a rail-transit system, spoke at the pro-rail group Go Rail Go's Bethel Street headquarters yesterday after the release of the Kobayashi plan. Caldwell, an attorney, said that as one of the architects of the general excise tax increase designed to pay for a transit system, he does not believe that the Kobayashi plan qualifies…”
Full Article…

Kobayashi's Plan Reveals Inconsistencies
KGMB Channel 9 News, Oct. 14, 2008
"I call this a flip, a flop, and another flip," said rail supporter Kirk Caldwell. He thinks Kobayashi's 11th hour plan is simply a political move to garner votes from people who supported Panos Prevedouros for mayor..."
Full Article...

More Rail Transit Meetings for the Public
KGMB Channel 9 News, Oct. 9, 2008
“Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced today a series of community meetings between October 14 and 23 to further inform residents about Honolulu's rail transit project. The community meetings will feature information about current and future traffic conditions on Oahu…”
Full Article…

Stop Rail brings the noise (few notice)
The Honolulu Advertiser, Oct. 4, 2008
“Few heads turned yesterday during a demonstration by Stop Rail Now in Chinatown aimed at replicating the noise level of the city's planned rail transit system ... ‘I didn't notice anything,’ said Holly Lacy, a North Shore resident in town to attend the monthly First Friday art tour in Chinatown. ‘I only heard the buses and they were loud.’ ”
Full Article...

City projects could help stimulate the local economy
KHON-2, Sept. 30, 2008
"Honolulu's Mayor outlined his take on the island economy and says city projects can buffer the tough times…"
Full Story…

Mayor Says Money is There for Rail
KGMB-9, Sept. 30, 2008
"The economy may be down but Honolulu's mayor insists that Oahu's future rail project is on track financially…"
Full Story…

Rail funds should hold in crisis
The Honolulu Advertiser, Sept. 25, 2008
“…the current economic malaise should not adversely affect Honolulu's chances of getting an inflation-adjusted $925 million in federal funds for the train, an official for the project's biggest consultant said yesterday…”
Full Article...

Voters should support rail transit’s completion
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sept. 5, 2008
"Opponents of a rail mass transit failed to sign up enough voters on a petition to place on the ballot their proposal to stop it. Instead, voters will have ..."
Full Editorial...

Anti-rail group’s effort denied by courts, clerk
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sept. 4, 2008
"An anti-rail group failed yesterday to get its proposal on the November ballot to block the city's proposed $4 billion rail transit system, ending a four-month-long fight that created widespread community debate and spurred aggressive attack campaigns ..."
Full Article...

Hawaii Supreme Court rules against Stop Rail Now
A separate City Clerk decision dooms the initiative drive
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sept. 3, 2008
“The Hawaii Supreme Court this afternoon upheld a Circuit Court decision that an anti-rail group needs 45,000 signatures in order for its initiative question to appear on the November ballot. Also today, the City Clerk ruled that Stop Rail Now did not receive enough signatures in its attempt to block the city's proposed $4 billion rail transit system ...”
Full Article...

Judge: Stop Rail Now needs 44500 valid signatures
The Honolulu Advertiser, Sept. 3, 2008
"The Hawaii Supreme Court has rejected Stop Rail Now's request for emergency relief from an earlier court ruling. That lower court ruling and the City Clerk's count of the number of valid signatures on Stop Rail Now's petition effectively kills the group's effort to get its question on the November ballot..."
Full Article…

Another rail poll, similar results
The Honolulu Advertiser, Aug. 27, 2008
“59 percent of voters in People's Pulse survey back $3.7 billion project”
Full Article…

Anti-rail signature issue back to court
The Honolulu Advertiser, Aug. 26, 2008
"Stop Rail Now yesterday asked Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto to reconsider whether the group needs nearly 45,000 valid voter signatures in order to place an anti-rail ordinance on the November ballot. Sakamoto recently ordered the city to process the group's petition. However, the judge's ruling indicates Stop Rail Now needs valid signatures of at least 44,525 registered voters..."
Full Article…

Rail Transit Poll
Read The Honolulu Advertiser’s four-day series on its rail transit poll, conducted in partnership with KGMB-9:


76% of O'ahu voters want rail on ballot
More than three-quarters of the poll's respondents said the electorate should get to decide the issue, and nearly two-thirds said they will cast their ballot in favor of rail.


Most in Honolulu say they won't use rail regularly, poll shows
While 23% of those surveyed living near route say they're very likely to take the train, most people say they don't expect to ride it frequently.


Rail ads reaching much of the public
Many have see or heard rail-related ads, but the poll shows there's a split over city funding of the pro-train campaign.


Honolulu mayor gets 80% approval rating in poll
Mayor Mufi Hannemann earns high marks despite a split over his handling of the rail issue.

TOD Paves the Way to Greater Access
By Audrey Suga-Nakagawa
AARP Hawaii State Newsletter, Summer 2008
"As the Honolulu City Council wrestles with the proposed mass transit system, AARP is supporting legislation that will have a farreaching impact on Oahu’s communities — and the elderly residents that live along the 20-mile route…"
Full Article…

We're past a 'go or no go' decision
By Rep. Neil Abercrombie
The Honolulu Advertiser, July 20, 2008
“…Merely to say go or no go as the present referendum campaign proposes does not help us arrive at an informed basis for such a decision…”
Full Commentary...

City Charter wrong vehicle for rail initiative
The Honolulu Advertiser, July 18, 2008
“…Under city rules, Stop Rail Now missed the May cutoff date to get the issue on the November ballot. That leaves a special election, which as rail opponents themselves rightly note, would be "a needless waste of taxpayer dollars…Enough said…”
Full Editorial...

Botched petition sure to prolong rail spat
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 18, 2008
"...The red faces of rail opponents following the announcement of the change should be more from embarrassment than anger..."
Full Editorial...

Board of District 40 Democrats Approve Rail
The Honolulu Advertiser (Reader-Submitted), July 18, 2007
“The Board Members of District 40 Democrats voted unanimously to support Rail during their July 16, 2008 meeting. The board is composed of business owners, teachers, veterans and citizens of the Makakilo and Kapolei communities…”
Full Story…

Another “No Opinion” on Rail, Aiona this Time
yes2rail.blogspot.com - July 16, 2008
"According to a Honolulu Advertiser report today, Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona says he doesn’t know what to think about rail transit..."
Full Commentary…

Political ambitions and transit
By Lee Cataluna
The Honolulu Advertiser, July 15, 2008
“…Except the ballot question isn't, ‘Hey, do you think rail is a good idea?’ It proposes a total ban on rail for O'ahu…”
Full Column…

No concerns over rail on ballot
The Honolulu Advertiser, July 15, 2008
“Four former directors of state DOT endorse city's transit efforts…”
Full Article…

Former state officials tout city’s rail plan
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, July 15, 2008
“ …‘Everyone is talking about wanting to hear other voices and the debate to be elevated,’ Hannemann said yesterday. ‘Who better than the ones who were put on the hot seats? They're all state transportation directors who are civil engineers’…”
Full Article…

State Transportation Directors Support Rail
KGMB9, July 14, 2008
“…It's an impressive group. Four former state transportation directors and a deputy health director. All who said rail is the answer to traffic gridlock on Oahu…”
Full Story…

Department of Transportation Directors Support Rail
KHON2, July 14, 2008
“…Transportation directors, under four state governors; and a Department of Health director under a fifth, spoke in support of the City's multibillion-dollar mass transit plan…”
Full Story…

Engineering Firms Add to Go Rail Go Support
KGMB9, July 12, 2008
"The pro mass transit group "Go Rail Go" is getting a big boost of support from Hawaii's engineering firms..."
Full Story...


About Rail
Read The Honolulu Advertiser’s three-part series looking at other cities’ transit efforts:


Lingle made rash choice to stir the pot on transit
The Honolulu Advertiser, July 6, 2008
“…Signing a petition that proposes an ordinance ‘to prohibit the use of trains or rail transit’ is clearly an expression of opposition … This comes at a point well after millions have been spent, state and city agencies have cooperated in the project, there are assurances of federal funding and the state has taken a cut of the rail tax in return for collecting the revenue…”
Full Editorial...

Analyzing the Risky Road Ahead
By Jade Moon
MidWeek, July 2, 2008
"My friend said something I never, ever thought she’d say. She’s going to catch TheBus to work..."
Full Column...

Isle commuters need choices, not distortions
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 29, 2008
“It isn't surprising that the Highway Users Alliance advocates more highways as a solution to our transportation woes, but it is disappointing that the HHUA's column Thursday was full of pothole-ridden logic, touted poorly disguised opinions as 'facts' and resorted to fear mongering...”
Full Article...

More park their car, take the bus
The Honolulu Advertiser, June 25, 2008
“New numbers confirm what many Hawai'i residents already suspected: the surge in gasoline prices since late last year has persuaded car and truck owners to cut back on driving…”
Full Article…

Hannemann meets Obama in Miami
The Honolulu Advertiser, June 22, 2008
“... Mufi Hannemann met today during the US Conference of Mayors in Miami, where Obama pledged his continuing support for Honolulu's rail transit project...”
Full Article...

Pro- and anti-rail efforts should spur taxpayer involvement
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 21, 2008
"... The question's wording -- 'Shall an ordinance be adopted to prohibit trains and rail transit in the City and County of Honolulu' -- doesn't exactly match the group's assertion that its purpose is simply to allow taxpayers a say in a decision on transit. Instead, it would ban the city from doing what elected officials, after years of debate and consideration, have chosen to do until the ordinance is repealed..."
Full Editorial...

Get rail transit answers from senator, officials
The Honolulu Advertiser, June 19, 2008
"Sen. Clarence Nishihara, D-18th (Waipahu, Crestview, Pearl City), will hold a community meeting from 10 a.m. Saturday in the food court section of the Waipahu Don Quijote store to discuss the city's upcoming rail transit project..."
Full Article...

Rail boosters launch media ads
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 18, 2008
"Two organizations are launching aggressive television and radio advertisements endorsing the city's $4 billion rail transit system, countering efforts by an anti-rail group that has been gaining momentum to stop the project..."
Full Article...

Honolulu's traffic among worst in U.S.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 18, 2008
"Forty hours sounds like a typical workweek. But that's how long motorists are stuck in traffic each week where Moanalua Freeway's eastbound lanes meet the H-1 freeway from the airport..."
Full Article...

Americans Turn to Mass Transit
ABC News, June 2, 2008
“High fuel prices drive motorists away from their cars…”
Full Article...

Extra sales tax brings in $211M so far
The Honolulu Advertiser, May 30, 2008
“Increased costs caused by the transit tax likely has little impact on Honolulu's overall economy, said University of Hawai'i economist Carl Bonham...”
Full Article

Hawaii rail transit will remake Waipahu
The Honolulu Advertiser, May 24, 2008
“Honolulu's commuter train is expected to bring in more than just passengers when it pulls into Waipahu in 2012. The planned $3.7 billion mass-transit system could also pump new life into the former plantation town and other communities along the 20-mile route from East Kapolei to Ala Moana …”
Full Article...

$350M rail route would link airport
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, May 24, 2008
“People would be able to take a 17-minute rail ride between Ala Moana Center and Honolulu Airport under a new 2.1-mile route…”
Full Article...

Mayor Adds Airport To Transit Plan
KGMB-9, May 23, 2008
“Under the mayor's plan, the 20 mile, $3.7 million transit system would still run from Kapolei through Salt Lake to Ala Moana Center, but the spur would connect the airport to that main line at the Middle Street station…”
Full Article...