Back in April 2009, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects held a panel discussion at which a mainland transit consultant predicted Honolulu’s rail EIS could be “in trouble”.

As I wrote at the time, the problem is “the city failed to deliver an environmental impact study that fulfilled what was promised in the official notice published in the Federal Register.”

Consultant Phil Craig told a gathering of architects that the Federal Register notice for the transit Environmental Impact Study committed the city to providing an analysis of alternatives, including “light” rail at grade as well as the “heavy” rail system favored by the city administration. But Craig said the available alternatives were never explored adequately or seriously considered, a flaw which he said could open the EIS to challenge.

What wasn’t clear at the times is that Craig was in Hawaii on a project funded by Kamehameha Schools to develop an alternative transit proposal to compete with the city’s proposed all-elevated system.

Today’s Honolulu Advertiser reports on Craig’s study, which has the potential to shave $1.7 billion off the transit price tag and also make the rail far more user and community friendly as it passes through Honolulu’s urban core.

Although the Advertiser says that the study has been in the hands of the Hannemann adminstration since “last month”.

What isn’t at all clear is whether Kamehameha made the study available to the Advertiser or is still trying to remain behind the scenes in the highly political jockeying for position.

Kamehameha is perhaps the only entity with the clout and deep pockets to force the city to seriously consider reasonable changes to its plan. I would imagine any signals that Kamehameha might back a legal challenge to the adequacy of the city’s environmental impact statement and its lack of consideration of alternatives could put the Hannemann administration in the position of having to either significantly delay until a legal ruling or make design concessions to placate critics.

I’m hoping Mayor Hannemann can actually show some real leadership and make the decision that there would be significant public benefits to the Kamehameha plan, both in cost savings and rider experience. The mayor’s leadership could demonstrate that he can do more than exhibit stubborn resolve, but can actually change direction when the evidence mounts up. That’s the sign of a good leader, and there’s always a chance that, facing a possible legal challenge with direct or tacit support from players like Kamehameha Schools, the mayor will see his way to a win-win resolution. He gets to deliver a rail transit system, as promised, and the public gets a less expensive, less intrusive, and more user-friendly design.