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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, April 1, 2003

DRIVE TIME
War fears may be the ticket to boosting highway spending

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

What do the war in Iraq and Hawai'i's highways have in common? More than meets the eye.

In fact, the battle against Saddam Hussein and the war on terrorism could have a big effect on America's highways, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Trying to make political hay out of terrorism jitters, the nation's highway lobby and its supporters are pushing the U.S. government to boost transportation spending, arguing that the nation's roads must be big enough to accommodate mass evacuations in the event of another terrorist attack.

It's an echo of the Cold War, when industry officials used the nation's fears to get the Interstate Highway system built. (Remember: The original justification for Hawai'i's H-3 Freeway was that it would link Pearl Harbor and the Marine base in Kane'ohe.)

Skeptics suggest the war campaign is an opportunistic attempt by the transportation lobby to snag more taxpayer subsidies for suburban sprawl.

Members of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association plan to use the homeland security issue during a mass "fly in" to Washington this month. They will ask their hometown legislators to support increased federal spending on transportation in a measure set to come up for a vote later this year.

And in a life-must-go-on-despite-the-war spirit, lawmakers in Hawai'i are making sure their own districts are protected, too.

Last month, lawmakers added millions of dollars in roadwork projects to a bill designed to help the state pay for extra security at airports and harbors.

As originally drawn up, HB1230 would have allowed the state to use about $5.6 million in airport and harbor special funds to pay for the extra security mandated by federal officials since Sept. 11.

When it emerged before Senate committees, though, it included plenty of unrelated expenses, including:

  • $12.2 million for a new highway bridge in Punalu'u.
  • $6.5 million to improve H-1 Freeway in urban Honolulu.
  • $15 million to widen Fort Weaver Road in 'Ewa.
  • $2 million for improvements to Kunia Road near Honowai Street.

The new measure was approved unanimously last week by the Senate Transportation and Ways and Means committees. It now goes before the full Senate.

Untapped auto market

Commuting

Information to help you get around O'ahu:

• TheBus: For schedules and other information, call 848-5555 or visit www.thebus.org.

• Vanpool Hawai'i: 596-8267

• Trafficam: Check out traffic conditions at more than 20 major intersections around Honolulu.

• Road work:

A change of regime might just be the ticket for Iraq's auto dealers.

Car companies expect auto sales to blossom in the desert once Saddam is deposed, according to Bloomberg News Service.

Under Saddam's rule, only the government could import cars, a move that created a huge backlog — up to 20 years — for individuals wanting to buy private vehicles.

With pent-up demand in the nation's 24 million people and gasoline so cheap that it sells for the equivalent of 5 cents a gallon, automakers are drooling at the potential in the Iraqi market once the war is over, officials say.

Armored-car sales surge

Business is also booming for America's armored car manufacturers because of terrorism, kidnapping and war fears.

Several firms that armor domestic vehicles say their business has doubled in the past 12 months.

Lincoln parent Ford Motor estimates that 22,000 armored cars were sold worldwide by all manufacturers last year, up from 5,000 in 1995. Sales have grown 20 percent each of the past two years.

The companies say they're even developing cars that can be sealed against chemical or biological attacks, providing breathing air from an air tank in the car. Costs are estimated to be about $300,000.

Automakers shares fall

However, the war isn't so good for automakers.

Shares of Toyota Motor Corp. and other Japanese automakers fell yesterday because of concern the war in Iraq may last longer than anticipated, curtailing consumer spending, investors said. Japanese automakers rely on the U.S. market for the bulk of their operating profit.

Similar downturns are being reported by European automakers, except in Italy, where buyers are rushing to take advantage of an auto tax break that expires next month.

Mike Leidemann's Drive Time column runs Tuesdays. Reach him at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.