HonoluluAdvertiser.com | Rail Transit | The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: July 6, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
3 bidding for Oahu rail
Two major train suppliers have pulled out of the running to provide vehicles and systems for Honolulu's planned rapid transit system. That leaves three companies competing for the estimated $230 million city contract scheduled to be awarded next year. The vehicles and systems contract is a small part of the $5.4 billion rail project. However, the style of the rail cars chosen will determine much of the system's overall character.

Posted on: June 24, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
Potential bidders attend rail symposium
At least three teams are lobbying to supply the vehicles and systems for Honolulu's planned commuter rail system. One of the teams aiming to land the estimated $250 million contract is led by Sumitomo Corporation of America.

Posted on: June 22, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
Transit tax take still lags
Honolulu's transit tax collections rebounded 10 percent in May to $14.9 million compared with a year ago. However, the city will need to collect a net $41 million this month or face a shortfall in collections for this fiscal year.

Posted on: June 17, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
Freeways, trains under scrutiny
Trains and lanes are the topics of two major transportation symposiums being held in Honolulu next week. On Sunday, a four-day international conference on freeways and tollways will kick off at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa.

Posted on: June 15, 2009 at 12:00 a.m.
Honolulu's new transit logo biased, rail opponents say
The city's multimillion-dollar rail information campaign now includes a heart-shaped "I Love Rail" logo that is featured on a monthly TV show and newsletter. The logo has been generating concern that the taxpayer-funded public involvement initiative now has taken on an overtly pro-rail promotional tone.

CONTINUING COVERAGE

Honolulu's new transit logo biased, rail opponents say (Jun 15, 2009)
The city's multimillion-dollar rail information campaign now includes a heart-shaped "I Love Rail" logo that is featured on a monthly TV show and newsletter. The logo has been generating concern that the taxpayer-funded public involvement initiative now has taken on an overtly pro-rail promotional tone.

City seeks bids on rail facility (Jun 04, 2009)
City officials have launched a search for a contractor to build a maintenance and storage facility for Honolulu's planned $5.4 billion elevated commuter train.

Rail revenue plummets (May 25, 2009)
Monthly tax collections needed to pay for Honolulu's planned $5.4 billion elevated commuter train fell 11 percent last month to $12 million compared with April 2008. The decline reflects a reduction in economic activity relating to a statewide slump.

Honolulu rail route, elevation draw most public comments (May 11, 2009)
More than 600 public comments were lodged in response to a city plan to build a 20-mile East Kapolei to Ala Moana train. City officials released the comments last week at the urging of the City Council. The 1,389-page document highlights a broad range of concerns about the planned $5.4 billion project ranging from noise, aesthetics, archaeological conservation, energy consumption and costs.

Worry arises with rail on fast track (May 04, 2009)
Major steps will come swiftly over the next few months as the city moves closer to breaking ground on the $5.4 billion mass transit project in December, assuming the project won't encounter any environmental hurdles.

Move sought for rail station (May 03, 2009)
Honolulu's planned elevated commuter train is expected to spur land values and real estate development for those who own property around train stations. That's because the train's estimated 95,310 daily riders are expected to generate opportunities for housing, business and employment.

Transit tax collections still short of projections (May 03, 2009)
Tax collections needed to fund Honolulu's planned commuter rail system continued to lag expectations in March.

Honolulu hiring for rail transit division (Apr 06, 2009)
As Honolulu gears up to begin construction on an elevated commuter rail line, one of the early tasks is to find 44 new full-time employees to help manage the city's nascent Rapid Transit Division.

75 attend West Oahu meeting on 3 rail hubs (Mar 19, 2009)
About 75 West Oahu residents, and a few curious people from outside the region, gathered last night to learn more about three Transit-Oriented Development hubs planned for the East Kapolei region in Hawaii.

Kamehameha Schools urges that Honolulu rail be at ground level (Mar 08, 2009)
Hawaii's largest private landowner wants the city of Honolulu to again consider building the planned $5.4 billion train at ground level. Kamehameha Schools is raising concerns about the visual impact the 50-foot-high elevated track system will have on Ho

Honolulu hopes $1B will cover overruns in rail-transit costs (Feb 22, 2009)
Will $1 billion cover potential cost overruns on Honolulu's planned $5.4 billion commuter train? That's what city officials have budgeted. If they're right, then the city's plan to be the general contractor on the project and hire guideway and station builders, buy vehicles and possibly operate the train could save money in the long run.

Details coming on rail impact (Feb 08, 2009)
The city of Honolulu must go about responding to hundreds of comments and likely thousands of questions submitted from the public about the $5.43 billion elevated commuter rail project as part of a lengthy environmental review.

Switch to airport rail route looks near (Jan 16, 2009)
The City Council on Thursday moved closer to changing the route of a planned $5.3 billion rail line so it passes through the airport district.

Phoenix rail offers look into future for Honolulu (Jan 05, 2009)
Honolulu residents have at least five years to wait before a planned $5.3 billion elevated commuter train launches service.

Honolulu rail enters defining year that could reshape plan, route (Jan 03, 2009)
In about a year, Mayor Mufi Hannemann and other city leaders will gather in an East Kapolei field for the start of construction on the state's largest-ever public works project.

Transit tax nets state less this year (Dec 11, 2008)
The latest transit tax collection figures are down nearly $2 million from where they were at this time last year as the global economic crisis keeps visitors away and spending slow.

Rail hearings start with Kapolei meeting (Nov 24, 2008)
The city will have its first public hearing on the draft environmental impact statement for a planned commuter train on Dec. 6 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia St.

Rail route to airport seen as better for Honolulu economy (Nov 20, 2008)
A commuter rail route that connects to Honolulu International Airport could spur more economic development near train stations than a Salt Lake route, according to the city's recently released draft environmental impact study.

Panorama: Airport station (Nov 20, 2008)
This panorama of the Airport station is made from a series of photographs, made over a very short time period, and then stitched together in a computer to create this image.

Panorama: Lagoon station (Nov 20, 2008)
This panorama of the Lagoon station is made from a series of photographs, made over a very short time period, and then stitched together in a computer to create this image.

Panorama: Salt Lake station (Nov 20, 2008)
This panorama of the Salt Lake station is made from a series of photographs, made over a very short time period, and then stitched together in a computer to create this image.

Best route for Hawaii rail still unclear (Nov 17, 2008)
An elevated commuter rail system that runs past Pearl Harbor and Honolulu International Airport would cost more to build and maintain, but carry more passengers and alleviate more traffic.

Effort to change rail route advances (Nov 13, 2008)

The City Council yesterday took its first official step toward changing the route of Honolulu's train to include Honolulu International Airport.

Hawaii rail transit cost now at least $4.28B (Nov 03, 2008)

The estimated cost of Honolulu's planned elevated rail line has climbed to at least $4.28 billion in today's dollars, according to the city's draft environmental impact statement released yesterday.

Pro-rail holds 5-1 spending advantage (Nov 02, 2008)
Pro-rail lobbying groups outspent rail opponents by a 5-1 margin through Oct. 20 and entered the final weeks of the campaign season with more than $161,700 in cash, according to the latest campaign filings.

HAWAI'I POLL

A four-part special report from the Honolulu Advertiser and KGMB9 News

76% of O'ahu voters want rail on ballot
More than three-quarters of the poll's respondents said the electorate should get to decide the issue, and nearly two-thirds said they will cast their ballot in favor of rail.

Most in Honolulu say they won't use rail regularly, poll shows
While 23% of those surveyed living near route say they're very likely to take the train, most people say they don't expect to ride it frequently.

Rail ads reaching much of the public
Many have see or heard rail-related ads, but the poll shows there's a split over city funding of the pro-train campaign.

Honolulu mayor gets 80% approval rating in poll
Mayor Mufi Hannemann earns high marks despite a split over his handling of the rail issue.