The new City Council and Gov. Linda Lingle's new administration have not yet decided whether they will go along with the city's bus rapid transit plan, leaving the project in limbo and risking $11 million in federal funds for its first phase. Indecision on transit plan
risks $11 million
By Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com"It almost seems like a chicken-and-egg situation," Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz said. "We're waiting to hear what the state is thinking, and they're waiting to hear from us on what we're thinking."
Nestor Garcia, the new chairman of the Council's Transportation Committee, said that the Council, which is two-thirds made up of freshman members, is still gathering information. It is too early to read the Council's position even though some expressed opposition to the project, he said.
"Everyone' circling around eyeing each other, but in the end we're supposed to be the ones (to make the decision). It's our project," he said.
Yesterday the committee received its first briefing on Mayor Jeremy Harris's bus rapid transit plan.
The previous Council approved the first phase, an Iwilei-to-Waikiki leg that includes a 5.6-mile high-frequency express bus service. Buses would travel two to four minutes apart during peak hours in bus-only or shared-traffic lanes. A total of $31 million has also been appropriated for that phase. Another $11 million in federal funding is also available.
The total cost of all the entire bus rapid transit is about $1 billion.
City Transportation Director Cheryl Soon said the city's on-again, off-again record with transit decisions has left the federal government wary.
"They're not interested in this stop and go," Soon aid. "They want to see what we're going to do, and they'll be partners with us if we're doing something that's providing a real new alternative."
Another issue is that Lingle has expressed her opposition to bus rapid transit but has not said whether she will give state approval to even the first phase of the project.
"I need to know what extent the state's involvement is just with respect to phase one. That would be a signal to this city as to whether we should proceed with the rest of the project as well," Garcia said.
Soon said that other than pledging to work together, Lingle's administration has not taken a formal stand.
Lingle's spokesman, Russell Pang, could not be reached for comment.
City & County of Honolulu
