Panel OKs acceptance of rail cash

In a firm show of support for rail, a Hono­lulu City Council committee voted 8-1 Thursday to authorize Mayor Peter Carlisle’s administration to sign an agreement to accept $1.55 billion in federal funding to help finance the city’s planned train project.

Rail supporters crowded into the Council hearing room to support the resolution authorizing a Full Funding Grant Agreement with the Federal Transit Administration.

"You cannot afford to lose $1.55 billion," said Jack Legal, chairman of Filipinos for Rail. Legal said "the public has overwhelmingly spoken" in support of rail earlier this month in the Hono­lulu mayoral election.

He added that "as elected public servants, you cannot deny the will of the people."

Mayor-elect Kirk Caldwell, who supports the rail project, defeated former Gov. Ben Caye­tano in the Nov. 6 election. Caye­tano opposes rail and promised to the stop the project if elected.

Building industry groups turned out Thursday to support the Council resolution, which advances to the full Council for what is expected to be a final vote. Officials with the Hono­lulu Authority for Rapid Transportation expect to sign the grant agreement sometime after Dec. 19.

Council Transportation Committee Chairman Breene Hari­moto said he has been attacked for his long-standing support of rail, "but I am absolutely convinced that this is the future for Hono­lulu."

He predicted the $5.26 billion rail line will hit more snags during development, but urged rail opponents to drop their opposition and instead try to contribute to the rail effort.

"Let’s find a way to work together to make this a better project," he said.

Councilwoman Ann Koba­ya­shi said she still believes that the planned steel-on-steel rail system is the wrong technology for Hono­lulu, and pointed out that billions of dollars more in rail funding will be needed in the years ahead if the city ever attempts to extend the 20-mile line to Waikiki and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Still, Kobayashi voted in favor of the project with reservations, saying she has not been willing to block the project even though she believes an elevated busway would be a better transportation solution for Hono­lulu.

The only vote against accepting the federal money came from outgoing Councilman Tom Berg, who called the steel-on-steel rail line "one of the worst things we could do in our history."

He added, "That is not free money. That is our tax dollars, and I think it could be spent more efficiently."

Berg ticked off a list of delay costs, change orders and other problems with rail, saying that the city has already "frittered away" the equivalent of $1.5 billion in trying to push forward with the rail project.

The rail system will extend from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, with the first segment of the line between Kapolei and Aloha Stadium scheduled to open in 2017.