ISLAND VOICES
People Mover the way to go
By Romy Cachola
Councilman Romy M. Cachola represents District VII.
Light rail? It's cheaper to build a system from Waikiki to the Aloha Tower Marketplace and tie it in smoothly with a ferry system.
Gov. Linda Lingle has proposed a $2.6 billion light-rail system that would be funded by increases in our fuel tax, registration fees, vehicle weight tax and/or the general excise tax. However, funding for such a project is uncertain, given the federal, state and city governments' current financial situations.
CACHOLA
Lingle's suggestions are worth exploring. We should continue to explore all options and proceed cautiously before deciding on a financing plan that would place a heavy financial burden on taxpayers.
Financing a colossal project such as this would be less intimidating if the Governor's Transportation Task Force first considers building a smaller-scale People Mover system that would run between Waikiki to the Aloha Tower Marketplace, and tie in smoothly with a ferry system. The People Mover could very well be the governor's initial segment of a grade-separated light-rail transit system to efficiently and reliably move large numbers of people.
Here are other advantages of a Waikiki-Aloha Tower People Mover System as I see it:
• It's the least expensive route. There may be no need for tax increases or for the government to provide millions of dollars in start-up costs, particularly if a suitable developer can build it at his expense or via partnerships with the public sector.
Farebox revenues along this profitable one-mile route may be sufficient to cover a large portion of the debt service for this project. Businesses that stand to benefit from the increased foot traffic — such as Ala Moana Center, Victoria Ward, Aloha Tower Marketplace and others — should pay for the construction of rail stations and kiosks.
The developer would profit from the sale of sundries and other goods sold at the kiosks, along with revenues from advertisements on the interior of the People Mover.
The city and state could help with easement and financing options when necessary.
• A Waikiki-Aloha Tower People Mover system would tie in smoothly with a private ferry between Leeward O'ahu and downtown Honolulu. The People Mover would increase ridership of the ferry system and vice versa. Increased ridership on both ends of the two systems would also greatly facilitate transportation and tourism opportunities between Waikiki and Leeward O'ahu areas like Pearlridge, Waikele, Kapolei, 'Ewa Beach and other destinations.
• Aloha Tower would benefit. Dovetailed with a ferry system and an efficient feeder bus system servicing the downtown area, the People Mover would eliminate the huge outlay of state funds to address the Aloha Tower parking problem. In addition, merchants at Aloha Tower would benefit from the increased foot traffic.
• There would be no need for the proposed $200 million Nimitz Highway flyover that would run above the new contraflow lane. Residents of my district are opposed to this proposal because of the visual blight, disruption to area businesses and high construction costs. With a People Mover and ferry system in place and the state's contraflow project successfully in operation, an expensive project such as the Nimitz Flyover would be unnecessary.
• Commuters would have three options from which to choose. When the Waikiki-Aloha Tower People Mover is completed, commuters could choose from either rail, ferry or bus. When economic conditions improve and light rail is expanded to West O'ahu and beyond, one leg would already have been finished.
• A Waikiki-Aloha Tower People Mover would complement our
No. 1 industry. A fast and efficient People Mover servicing O'ahu's tourism mecca would serve as a new visitor attraction for Hawai'i, which is considered by many to be a mature visitor destination.
