Transit Matters: The truth about HOT lanes

Cliff Slater is so full of crap it is ridiculous. He has only selfish motives for pushing more freeways (you can call it HOT, Managed Lanes, whatever, it still a freeway FOR GAS GUZZLING AUTOMOBILES & BUSES! By the way, Cliff, how many tour buses do you own these days??

Tsarbombda can no longer use the City's AA as source for claiming that the 10 mile Hot Lane will cost $2.6 Billion.

Mr. Slater also still lives in a world where gas is cheap and thinks there's a limitless supply in ANWR. He porbably also owns several Hummers that are sitting idle.

We need to get away from vehicular traffic solutions and give the people of Hawaii an alternative to the auto (which will be obsolete in 10 years).

By the way, Mr. Slater, I haven't see you on TheBus lately? Try taking a ride before advocating "more buses" and you'll see that we're packed to the gills and need another shared transporation system, not a highway to nowhere...

dwilliams wrote:

Mr. Slater also still lives in a world where gas is cheap and thinks there's a limitless supply in ANWR. He porbably also owns several Hummers that are sitting idle.
We need to get away from vehicular traffic solutions and give the people of Hawaii an alternative to the auto (which will be obsolete in 10 years).
By the way, Mr. Slater, I haven't see you on TheBus lately? Try taking a ride before advocating "more buses" and you'll see that we're packed to the gills and need another shared transporation system, not a highway to nowhere...

What specific negatives can you cite regarding Slater's statement? Are you attacking the messenger and not the message because Slater is stating the facts that you cannot deny?

A rail system will require 3 steps for each commuter, every day. Transportation to the boarding station (cab, bus, personal vehicle), passage on the train, disembarkation and transfer via a 3rd vehicle (cab, bus, waiting personal vehicle). Who can possibly see this as an attractive option?

Express buses at peak hour will travel non-stop on HOT Lane from each of the many communities directly to downtown at 60 mph with one or zero transfers.

The proposed train will not get people out of their cars very easily.

Would bus riders rather transfer to a train that travels at 25 miles per hour or stay on the bus at 60 miles per hour?

Less commuter cars and more express bus riders will result with HOT Lanes. Peak hour traffic congestion on H-1 will be reduced by 35 percent while Rail will worsen traffic congestion.

Conclusion: Less gasoline will be used if HOT Lanes Transit System rather than Rail.

Cliff "Nut Case" Slater continues howling at the moon. It all has to do with campaign contributions!!! Right, Cliff.

The same companies and unions that build highways and HOT lanes are the ones who would build the transit system. We're not going to import construction companies and unions. Doh!

I think it is outrageous the way that Mufi has pushed rail down our throats as the only solution. He never even looked at or researched Hot lanes. I call on the state to research and propose new viaducts over existing roadways (Kamehameha, Nimitz, and Farrington highways.) Months back I researched the new construction techniques (precast sections placed by new crane technology) used in Texas. It is cheaper, fast, and won't disrupt existing traffic underneath. It can also be funded 90% by federal dollars!

We need to review the facts, kids!

The Train To Nowhere:

-Won't go to UH Manoa, Ewa Beach, Waikiki, UH West, Pearl Harbor or the Airport. You know, the places where it might do some good.

-Costs $5 billion. To start. Have not identified a way to pay for it except more GET hikes and more property taxes.

-Starts in an empty field and will go to Waipahu, but only after years and years.

-Already super politicized and a boon for the special few fat cats -$107,000,000 already blown.

-No vote for Hawaii residents.

-No clear expense, ridership or financial details. For example, what about the oil burning power plant HECO will need to build to power the train? How much to *really* acquire the rights to the route?

-Admitted it is to control growth into Hong Kong style condo along the route, not solve traffic problem.

-Admitted it won't ease congestion.

Seems any alternative is better than the disastrous Train To Nowhere.

Just a reminder...

At yesterday's meeting, Mufi must have ordered his sheep to wake up early and post their b.s. on the Honolulu Star-Bulletin site here.

Opponents of The Rail----keep those signatures coming and let's put this on the November Ballot.

Personal attacks against Slater are irrelevant.

It is the fear of Mufi supporters that Rail will be defeated in November that have got them scrambling to try and stifle opposition.

Pro-railers can only rely on deceit, propaganda, and childish comments against those (the vast majority) that oppose rail. No solid facts to support rail. They keep pointing to the environment as a reason to promote rail (environmentalists they are not), though rail could very well be a lot more damaging on the environment than autos in the near future.

If there is any hint of truth to what Slater says about the way the city conducted its analysis of transit options, rail needs to be shelved immediately.

Taxpayer wrote:

Tsarbombda can no longer use the City's AA as source for claiming that the 10 mile Hot Lane will cost $2.6 Billion.

Why? Because Mr. Slater said so? Laugh of the day right there.

Oh yeah, if you want to say the AA is no longer a source, do not ever say the rail will not alleviate traffic because the AA said so. I've seen you post that so many times. You need to take that back too if you want to say I can't use the AA. No cherry picking allowed. Either accept the AA's results or don't accept any. Your call.

Excuses wrote:

Pro-railers can only rely on deceit, propaganda, and childish comments against those (the vast majority) that oppose rail. No solid facts to support rail. They keep pointing to the environment as a reason to promote rail (environmentalists they are not), though rail could very well be a lot more damaging on the environment than autos in the near future.
If there is any hint of truth to what Slater says about the way the city conducted its analysis of transit options, rail needs to be shelved immediately.

The same as the anti-railers. But all they have is a guy with absolutely no qualifications on rail other than he is against it and an who writes articles and a traffic engineer who has no real world experience. Gee- is that all the qualifications you need. Secondly the Alternatives Analysis went through federal officials. The vast majority support rail.

Get your facts about Tampa. They built in existing right-of-way. Do your homework here. We don't have the existing right-or-way to do it. Don't believe me and don't believe him. do your own homework and see.

Rail is not the best alternative because it cannot provide the benefits that HOT Lanes can. Remember the HO in HOT lanes stands for High-Occupancy. HOT Lanes provide Express Buses, Carpools, Van Pools, Handy Vans, and City emergency vehicles elevated lanes that travel at 55 miles per hour. Express Buses on HOT Lanes travel twice as fast as the proposed rail. Doesn't anyone want to save time getting to work? HOT Lanes are Managed Lanes which means they can be opened to everyone when H-1 is blocked or partially blocked. Rail cannot do this. HOT Lanes can fill their extra capacity by allowing single occupant cars to use the Lanes for a toll. This will take cars off H-1 and provide benefits for those that stay on H-1. Rail produces no benefit for those on H-1. HOT Lanes will reduce the travel time for all commuters. Rail will not reduce the travel time for any commuters. We would not need the extra excise tax with HOT Lanes. This mandatory rail toll is costing every family $300.00 per year for the next 14 years. Who wants to pay this rail toll for a system that is so inferior compared to HOT Lanes?

Let the people vote on Rail. Go to
stoprailnow.com and download the petition.

Excuses wrote:

Pro-railers can only rely on deceit, propaganda, and childish comments against those (the vast majority) that oppose rail. No solid facts to support rail. They keep pointing to the environment as a reason to promote rail (environmentalists they are not), though rail could very well be a lot more damaging on the environment than autos in the near future.
If there is any hint of truth to what Slater says about the way the city conducted its analysis of transit options, rail needs to be shelved immediately.

We need an audit! Just like what State Auditor Marion Higa does for the State.

Write to the Independent City Auditor requesting for an audit on the City's Alternative Analysis Contract with Parsons.

Office of the City Auditor
1000 Uluohia Street, Suite 120
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
http://www.honolulu.gov/council/auditor/index ...

kitty wrote:

<quoted text>
Get your facts about Tampa. They built in existing right-of-way. Do your homework here. We don't have the existing right-or-way to do it. Don't believe me and don't believe him. do your own homework and see.

Where's your facts on the Oahu HOT Lane? If you did your homework, you would find that The HOT would be elevated, within existing right-or-ways, over the Kam Hwy median strip between Pearl City and Aiea, over the H-1 Viaduct median, and over the Nimitz median to Iwilei ending with a flyover to Hotel Street and an underpass to Alakea Street..a total of ten miles and a cost of $1.0 Billion versus $5.0 Billion for Rail.

The rest of the HOT would use the existing four-lane one-way King and Beretania Streets (a couplet). HOT will not need any elevated highway in Honolulu.

kitty wrote:

<quoted text>
The same as the anti-railers. But all they have is a guy with absolutely no qualifications on rail other than he is against it and an who writes articles and a traffic engineer who has no real world experience. Gee- is that all the qualifications you need. Secondly the Alternatives Analysis went through federal officials. The vast majority support rail.
Get your facts about Tampa. They built in existing right-of-way. Do your homework here. We don't have the existing right-or-way to do it. Don't believe me and don't believe him. do your own homework and see.

You got that right!

same old slater and conservative republican b.s. It's alway about them and 'their' truth. If you don't support their view you are labeled a nazi, communist, puppet, minion, and sheep. real mature....

All the pro-rail people do in this here forum is bs the messenger and ignore the validity of the message. Mufi, for all you know, will backtrack on his intent to build a rail transit system once he gets wind that he would be committing political suicide if he continues with his rail transit obssession. So keep that in mind all you Mufi hired guns in this here forum.

Tsarbomba wrote:

<quoted text>
Why? Because Mr. Slater said so? Laugh of the day right there.
Oh yeah, if you want to say the AA is no longer a source, do not ever say the rail will not alleviate traffic because the AA said so. I've seen you post that so many times. You need to take that back too if you want to say I can't use the AA. No cherry picking allowed. Either accept the AA's results or don't accept any. Your call.

Okay, let's forget Slater. The City's/Parson Alternative Analysis (AA) states that the H-3 freeway adjusted cost in 2006 dollaars is $41.6 million per lane mile and the Managed Lane estimate is $80.5 Million per lane mile.

Do you really believe that H-3 is half the cost of a three lane elevated hwy built over existing Kamehameha Hwy and Nimitz hwy?

Only a moron (not saying that you are) would believe that.

It's intolerable when people post comments here and bash researchable facts, which for the most part is what was presented in the article to back up the writer's opinion.

Obviously, this is a hot topic, and people are resorting to name calling. Myself and the rest of the Oahu residents are selfish---we want to know how the alternatives might or might not affect us. We don't care about who can call the other the worse name, nor are we going to join one side or the other based on the name calling. People who spend their efforts calling the other side names have wasted their opportunity to persuade most of us residents.