Mayoral candidate and former governor, Ben Cayetano, scored this week when he made public several emails from federal transit staffers critical of the city’s rush to get its rail project underway.
These are among the 155,000 pages of documents delivered to the federal court in Honolulu on a hard drive. The documents filled approximately 44 GB of disk space.
The index to the documents is a hefty 6.6 MB, and stretches over 1,941 pages.
I downloaded the index from the court record and have posted it for your browsing pleasure.
The thousands of pages of newly released documents include many that were already public, along with the internal documents not previously disclosed.
Most of the legal documents filed in the case, along with the docket, are available from the anti-rail web site, HonoluluTraffic.com.
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This will fund a lot of Mercedes payments for the lawyers!
When rail was promoted as a job creator (Rail V.1.2*) I never thought that meant sinecures for flacks and shysters but looking at the public relations and legal expenses I now understand.
* other release versions include traffic mitigation project, economic stimulus, transit oriented development, protection of ag lands and campaign contribution generator, the most successful version.
The email exchange was 6 years ago. I wonder what the situation is now?
And why was Ansaldo selected as the contractor when they have a history rife with problems? There are other companies that might cost more but are proven.
As with anything else, purchases have to be made with best value in mind. Not just cost.
According to Lori Kahikina, director of the Dept. of Design and Construction, they are bound by law to accept the bid with the lowest price. This has caused another problem for the city — one contractor has been awarded so many jobs that they now have a backlog with the city.
I enjoyed Wednesday’s Bunda commentary. I never voted for him but felt his points had merit.
Inouye asked LaHood to describe the transportation department’s stance on the project, and LaHood replied that “We’ve talked about this project. You were kind enough to convene a meeting about this and other projects in Hawaii. I want you to know that we are committed to this project. This is an important project.”
“This will deliver people all over the island. It’s an important project and at this point, we will continue to work through whatever issues need to be worked through,” LaHood testified. “We’re committed to this. We’re committed to the money; we’re committed to the project. And, until we hear differently from others who are intimately involved in this, I see no reason why we won’t go forward.”
++++
Right after LaHood kissed Inouye’s gold pinky ring, Akaka butted in, “Wot you mean all over the island? It doesn’t go all over the island. It goes to the shopping mall!!”
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/LaHood_Feds_support_Honolulu_rail_project.html?id=142838965
Neither LaHood nor Akaka had it right.
Eventually it will connect West Oahu with East Oahu. That was the original grand plan.
I remember when H1 was “Lunalilo Freeway”, that started near the Humane Society to Piikoi Street. How useful was that?
How long did it take to extend H1 through Kaimuki? How long did it take before it went beyond Makakilo? And how long did it take before it got turned into a parking lot by every stalled vehicle, accident and rain squall?
Look at all the resistance to H3. Same arguments. Costly. Unsightly. A total waste. Since then, how many protestors use it? I’ll bet good money that they now drive through it without a second thought.
Dean – I think you are missing the point that our current rail plan is too costly to build and maintain, much less to ever consider expanding. I’ll be surprised if we have the money to complete the 3rd phase into Honolulu.
Already the train is asking for ALL the money for bus maintenance the next 7 years starting in fiscal 2013:
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/HART-Cheaper-to-build-and-wreck-than-to-wait-for/l45ej0zUhki-OWHDgHdaoQ.cspx
and, just to help remind who is planning on building and maintaining this system, it’s the same people who gave us this “In Honolulu 62 percent of the roads are in poor condition, the third highest in cities with populations of 500,000 or more.” (also from the news yesterday)
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/Road-repairs-overdue-Potholes-costing-money-and/ApQCL-yskEKwkLhwiZd6Yw.cspx
My personal view is that an unsightly elevated train will have a hard time getting through Waikiki. Both residents and hotels will not want a train whizzing by their lanais. Nor will it ever connect to UH Manoa or pick up the students at the several schools along the ridge or Punahou.
The system isn’t extensible as would have been some other alternative choices.
There is no way to compare with the H-3. One is a highway that’s a done deal, and sure, it is there now to be used. The other isn’t built yet, and we have every right to want the best choice for ourselves as Honolulu citizens.
We have had little to no voice in the design of our own living environment, of which transit is only a part.