Emotions high
as fight resumes on
rail transit

Residents have a lot to say for
and against light rail as the city's
second round of meetings, aimed
at getting public input, kick off

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

The emotional debate over rail transit has begun again and it looks like another knock-down, drag-out fight ahead.

Pro and con rail arguments were raised by residents as the second round of the city's Oahu Trans 2K meetings got under way last night at the Ala Moana Hotel.

"Scrub rail and just have a cheaper, expandable bus system," said Lynne Matusow, a downtown resident, in presenting the consensus view of the eight or so people in her discussion group.

But Kalihi resident Jon Olsen said he was "quite shocked at the negative reaction to light rail." Olsen said a modern rail line is the only logical starting point toward solving the island's traffic problems.

Olsen's comments drew cries from the audience. Downtown resident Andy Rothstein shouted his opinion that light rail would only make traffic worse.

Ten more meetings in this second round of transit talks will be held over the next three weeks. The Oahu Trans 2K program, which engaged more than 900 people in its September-October first round, is intended to draw a "community-based transportation vision for the 21st Century" that will help the city make decisions.

"Just say 'no' to fixed rail," said McCully resident John Kato. He warned that if the city proceeded with plans to install light rail through Honolulu, "people in our area would fight real hard."

Tom Smyth, a downtown resident, argued just as fervently for a "bi-directional" light rail system through the center of town, while Doug Meller of Liliha said his group favors a Beretania-King streets rail loop.

In all, representatives from five of the 14 groups representing the area from McCully to Kalihi endorsed light rail as one of their "three favorite mobility concepts."

Representatives for four groups flat-out voiced disapproval for light rail while those speaking for five other groups gave no opinion of rail.

City Transportation Services Director Cheryl Soon said she wasn't counting. The second round of hearings was not designed to produce a referendum for or against rail, she said.

"But I think it's exciting," Soon said. "The juices are flowing and people are debating it. They're thinking about what kind of city they want."

The city has yet to decide whether to build a rail line, although Mayor Jeremy Harris has floated an initial plan for a system from the university area to either Aloha Stadium or Pearlridge center.

Bart Aronoff of McCully-Moiliili said he wanted more information about pricing and other community impacts of different projects.

"Choices always involve trade-offs," he said.

Soon said a third series of hearings, scheduled for January, will bring out the costs and impacts of various alternatives.

Last night's discussion wasn't only about light rail.

There was widespread consensus for more circulator buses that would travel only around communities.

Attendees also pushed for more bike lanes and measures to slow traffic in residential areas.