Council OKs
further study for
transit plan

The $1 billion project has a
12-mile electric tram running
through the city

City Council approves measures

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

The City Council has given Mayor Jeremy Harris' $1 billion rail plan the go-ahead for further study.

The Council voted 8-0 in favor of a resolution "strongly supporting the concept" of the system, proposed to be built using federal funding and city bonds. Councilwoman Donna Mercado Kim was not present when the vote was taken.

The plan calls for a 12-mile, electric "CityTram" running through the urban core of Honolulu, between Middle Street and the University of Hawaii-Manoa.

It also envisions increasing the number of express buses from Leeward, Central and Windward Oahu, and improvements to the freeway system subject to state approval, including several new bus-only ramps and an afternoon Zipper Lane.

Perhaps the most debated part of the plan is an tunnel running under Honolulu Harbor that would divert traffic from Nimitz Highway to Sand Island. Council Transportation Chairman Mufi Hannemann, criticized the Harris administration for including the "Sand Island Scenic Parkway" as part of the transit plan.

He noted that state Rep. Kenneth Hiraki, chairman of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, questioned the cost of the tunnel project, and that state Transportation Director Kazu Hayashida also has raised concerns

But city Transportation Director Cheryl Soon urged Council members to support continued study of the entire plan.

The tunnel portion should be studied so city officials can "put it on the table so that we can prioritize it," Soon said.

She noted the project is "segmented" -- or done in phases -- to ease the financial burden on taxpayers.

"There has to be a starting point," Councilman Steve Holmes agreed. "We all know there are financial choices much further down the road," he said, including decisions that may have to be made by future Councils.

Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura said many questions remain about the viability of different parts of the mayor's plan.

"But we cannot let those open questions stop us from moving forward now," he said.

More than a dozen people -- representing interests as diverse as labor unions to shipping companies to the bicyclists -- called on the Council to endorse the resolution.

Some, however, did specify reservations about supporting the tunnel , and others wondered about the rail line's technology.

Liquor Commission audit sought The City Council yesterday approved the following: A resolution calling for the first management audit of the Honolulu Liquor Commission in 20 years. Councilman Andy Mirikitani, who introduced the resolution and other commission-related measures, said the panel has been ineffective and lacking in accountability. A resolution urging the state Legislature to grant control over liquor commissions to either the counties or state, instead of having dual jurisdiction. A resolution urging the Liquor Commission to hold its meeting in neighborhoods affected by its actions. A resolution urging the Legislature or Liquor Commission to require lobbyists engaged in activities with the commission to abide by state lobbyist reporting and disclosure laws. A resolution urging the Legislature or commission to abide by state rules requiring the disclosure of gifts. A resolution urging the administration to draft legislation requiring that a person must be dead at least five years before having a city edifice named after him or her. A resolution allowing Maunakea Palms Limited Partnership to obtain $26 million in city-sponsored bond financing to maintain affordable rental units at Maunakea Tower. A resolution allowing Block J Affordable Housing Ltd. Partnership to obtain $80 million in city-sponsored bond financing for the Block J elderly-housing project. By Gordon Y.K. Pang, Star-Bulletin

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