Acting rail director intends to leave in November
STAR-ADVERTISER
Mike Formby:
He says he has no plans to return as the city’s director of transportation services
Acting rail Executive Director Mike Formby says he intends to leave that post — and his work at the city — in early November.
By that time, Honolulu rail officials have signaled, they hope to have found an interim director for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation who can help further move the severely cash-strapped transit project beyond the era of former Executive Director Dan Grabauskas, who resigned in August, and into an uncertain future.
In an email Thursday, Formby said he has “no current plan” to return to his post as the city’s Department of Transportation Services director.
“My personal philosophy in life has always been to move forward and not back,” said Formby, who left DTS on Aug. 18 for what was believed to be a temporary period to lead HART. “There are so many new and interesting things I’ve yet to tackle in life.”
Formby’s announced departure came a day after Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s office told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the city’s legal counsel has determined Deputy DTS Director Mark Garrity, who’s filling in as the department’s acting director, can also fill Formby’s seat on the rail board of directors.
Last month, city officials said Garrity would not fill Formby’s HART board seat because Garrity is only the acting DTS director.
Along with Garrity, the city’s acting Department of Planning and Permitting director, Art Challacombe, will fill a seat normally occupied by his boss, George Atta, on the HART board. Atta recently went on medical leave.
Having the city’s two acting directors on the HART board will help keep the oversight group’s ranks from shrinking as the transit project’s fiscal crisis grows. The mayor’s office announced Garrity and Challacombe would fill the board seats two days after the Star-Advertiser asked if Caldwell had concerns about mounting vacancies on the HART board and whether the matter might hinder the group’s ability to oversee rail during such a critical time.
Caldwell spokesman Jesse Broder Van Dyke said the city’s legal counsel determined sometime last week that Garrity could serve as a HART board member.
As acting DTS director, Garrity “has all of the powers and duties of the agency head, including occupying the HART board,” Caldwell’s office stated in an email, as part of the legal justification for the move.
Some HART board members interviewed this week about looming vacancies before the city shared its decision about the acting directors did not appear to know that Garrity and Challacombe would be joining their ranks. HART board Chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa said she learned Tuesday after speaking with the Star-Advertiser.
Caldwell often touts his appointment of Hanabusa to the volunteer, unpaid rail board as a solid pick to help get a better handle on the massively overbudget project — but she’s now running to reclaim her former congressional seat. Hanabusa says she’ll step down from HART sometime before the Nov. 8 election.
Caldwell, who faces a fierce re-election fight against former Congressman and City Councilman Charles Djou, is “in active discussions regarding candidates” to replace Hanabusa, his office’s email stated Wednesday. “It will be difficult to fill her shoes and we wish she could stay, but the necessary search has commenced.”
Additionally, state Department of Transportation Director Ford Fuchigama has been able to attend only two meetings since May 2015, according to online HART board minutes and officials with the semiautonomous government agency. Fuchigama sits on the board per Honolulu city Charter. In January, he informed his rail board colleagues that he wouldn’t be able to attend most of this year’s meetings due to his state responsibilities.
With Garrity and Challacombe able to fill seats, the HART board avoids being as lean as it has ever been in its more than five years directly reviewing and setting policy for rail.
The island’s elevated transit project, which also happens to be the state’s largest public works project ever, currently faces an uncertain future with daunting cost overruns of at least $1.5 billion.
The city’s two acting directors are slated to attend their first board meeting Thursday at Kapolei Hale, according to a rail spokesman. The DPP director is the only one on the 10-member board who doesn’t vote, but his attendance helps the HART board keep its quorum.
Honolulu’s city Charter requires that those two director positions also serve as ex-officio members on the HART board.
Formby had served as Caldwell’s DTS director since January 2013 before taking the helm at HART in August.
Meanwhile, HART board member Terrence Lee said Wednesday he is confident “based on what I’ve seen and heard so far” that the HART board could have an interim executive director running the agency prior to Nov. 8. The City Council appointed Lee to the rail board in 2015.
“HART needs to move on. This is too important a position,” Lee said, referring to the executive director job. The agency needs to focus on recovery and financial plans for rail that will satisfy its federal transit partners in the months ahead, he said.
“There is a very definite sense of urgency,” Lee added.
104 responses to “Acting rail director intends to leave in November”
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Wake up and smell the fail. All the leaders are jumping ship because the rail project is screwed up beyond all recognition. Take a hint – end the project now. Taxpayers should not be left holding the bag. Stop the rail, go back to the drawing board and come up with something more sane.
Only the easiest parts of the project have been completed so far. The project has not even reached the difficult parts and it is already costing taxpayers ten times more than any other City ever paid for their mass transit project. It is beyond comprehension that they would continue such a massively ludicrous out of control project. Kill it now.
The California High Speed rail is also collapsing. It too started off in farmland and it’s priced tag has exploded. Read about it in Bloomberg.
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-06-28/california-hits-the-brakes-on-high-speed-rail-fiasco
True, but to the unions and politicians it was, and is, a total win. Billions that were spent went to someone. Even if they decide to tear it down, they’ll continue to make money. Note that the original rail business plan for all the rail projects, HI, CA, and the NV train to nowhere, all were very similar and were Washington, DC born projects, which distributed wealth to Democrats (look it up), and increased the countries debt, so in the meantime it all appears to be “free money”. How one votes really does matter.
Sad to say the utterly clueless, incompetent, elected bureaucrats in Sacradamento are all legends in their own mind. The fact no private company would fund the project shows there is no demand for it, no way for it to pay for its operational costs.
As in the Nei, taxpayers were sold a pack of lies from day one, now the truth is exposed, taxpayers are saying “No way.”
Nei taxpayers need to understand just how badly their rail program was mismanaged. At 300% over budget, years behind schedule, no completion date, rail is an endless money pit or the Nei.
Years from now our children and grandchildren will study the rail debacle in school, forever asking how their parents believed the endless rail lies.
But Remember ” Rail will be built on Time and on Budget ” ! Need I say more !!!!!!!!
By the way people can visit the Rail Cars that was paid for now and just waiting to be used in maybe 2024. If someone can explain to me you have the 2016 model railcar now in stead of 2024 models ?
California is not Hawaii.
And so far the city’s projected rail cost is within budget. The fed’s projections disagree.
Yes nobody except Caldwell and others those who support rail are willing to fight for rail.
Djou wont lift a finger. He’s always voted against rail.
wiliki says:”And so far the city’s projected rail cost is within budget. ”
Please stop lying. You’re not helping anyone.
The City’s projected cost is 6.8 billion. The feds project it higher at 8.1 billion.
wiliki is so lost, so far out he has no idea where the real world is.
Lets not forget, the Mufster stated: “2004: Newly elected mayor Hannemann asserts that 34 miles of rail will cost $2.7 Billion.” Ref: http://www.newgeography.com/content/005156-live-honolulu-hart-rail-a-megaproject-failure-making
Now we are looking at $9-10 billion, 300% over budget, years behind schedule, no firm date when rail will start operation. Rail’s crushing monthly O&M is estimated between $20-50 million per month thanks to the very low recoup rate from rail fares, below 30%.
Years from now in school, our children and grandchildren will study how the Nei utterly failed to build rail “On time, on budget.” Biggest financial debacle in the Nei’s history.
Just another day in the little 10th world of Hawaii Nei.
If the rail has been a financial failure for the State, when the State has a huge revenue surplus, Moodys and Standard & Pools have given the State Aa+ bond ratings, State and City tax revenues increasing and among the best in the country, unemployment 3.4%, the national average at 4.9%, the economy is booming, and construction and development going gang busters, the median incomes of singles and families also increasing. The facts contradict all your doom and gloom stamens about rail being a disaster.
And who pays for rail?
A correction to my last sentence, statements. To all the rail naysayers, when ThoMas Edison, the inventor of the light, was asked, how many failures and timeit took to get it right. His reply, the 2,000 failures were only steps on the path to the solution of inventing the light. Rome was not built in a day, not on time, or on any budget. It was a vision.
This rail project isn’t Rome and it’s not a State project.
Increased tax revenue is just another way of saying higher taxes, and I can’t for the life he me understand why’d act like that was a good thing.
If the developers want a train, then let them build it and pay for it themselves.
RAIL FAIL was not a vision. It was deceit…moving the goal.
And now it’s hopelessly cash strapped.
Took you all morning of getting your talking points from Krook to come up with this??
Vector, what do your statistics have to do with the rail project?
RUSTY THE HATED SCREECHING RAIL REARS ITS UGLY HEAD AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN. Built on a foundation of lies, deception & cash laden backroom deals. Now the RAIL IS LIKE A HEADLESS TRAIN WITH NO IDEA OF WHERE ITS GOING OR IF ITS GOING FOR THAT MATTER. “MIKE TAKE KIRK WITH YOU PLEASE”
vektor AKA uku will do anything to try and spin the ever growing rail money pit as “On time, on budget” while the rest of us know the real story.
The Mufster stated: “2004: Newly elected mayor Hannemann asserts that 34 miles of rail will cost $2.7 Billion.” Ref: http://www.newgeography.com/content/005156-live-honolulu-hart-rail-a-megaproject-failure-making
Now we are looking at $9-10 billion, 300% over budget, years behind schedule, no firm date when rail will start operation. Rail’s crushing monthly O&M is estimated between $20-50 million per month thanks to the very low recoup rate from rail fares, below 30%.
While the higher ratings sound nice, the fact is our elected bureaucrats will do little to nothing to reduce the tax burden. Spending on pet projects is at an all time high, pension costs are in the billions as is the backlog of state infrastructure/UH Manoa.
Ideally this would be the time to refinance, cut wasteful bond payments, get our financial house in order to pay cash for all projects. Bonds cost taxpayers up to 2-3 times the amount borrowed, all the tens of millions and more in interest is just wasted money.
Just another day in the little 10th world of Hawaii Nei.
More likely that the dude got a better job. Mike Formby is also an attorney and with his background could probably get much more cash in the private sector. He’s an impressive guy, wish him well.
And he know when to get OFF of a sinking ship.
Both the HART board and city are sinking ships
Yes; he is also a really nice guy. Big loss for the City. Wish him the best.
I think Mike was the right guy for the right time. He’s definitely dedicated to doing whats best for the city. Too bad were losing him. Mark G. on the other hand nice guy but not sure if he can fill those shoes. Time will tell.
agree..and to boast of Hanabusa who did nothing but preen for the cameras before jumping ship is ludicrous. Everything she said for the cameras was obvious. Anyone could have said the same.
Well, if you can’t stand the heat get out of the…WHAT?…THE KITCHEN IS ON FIRE???
All the rats are jumping the ship!
The captain has left the bridge…and they are rearranging the deck chairs while the band plays on.
And the purser is still trying to sell the fiasco AND collect his $200k++ a year salary for doing nothing while he unashamedly takes in money paid by the HNL taxpayers!
OUT with Krook and his RAIL FAIL!!!!
Wonder amount of city funds on deposit at Territorial. I heard about a year ago that
Kiiewit wouldn’t bid on next segment. If Djou wants to win, he needs to change his position and say he will stop rail in its tracks until a funding solution is found that won’t bankrupt the city or increase the burden on taxpayers.
Meanwhile, as mentioned above the rats having fattened themselves on the back of the taxpayers are jumping off the sinking ship and our esteemed Washington reps have no power since Dan I passed away.
A correction to my last sentence, statements. To all the rail naysayers, when ThoMas Edison, the inventor of the light, was asked, how many failures and timeit took to get it right. His reply, the 2,000 failures were only steps on the path to the solution of inventing the light. Rome was not built in a day, not on time, or on any budget. It was a vision.
vector is trying to look cute with his out of place comments, missing the most important one of all, his standard.
This is the most relevant comment to the Nei. George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Ref: https://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/blog/churchill-quote-history/
The Nei continues to waste 10s of millions in interest payments, frivolous government projects always over budget, behind schedule. Willful failure to maintain infrastructure, costing taxpayers even more when maintenance is finally done. Even then sometimes the work is so shoddy it must be redone in a few years.
Just another day in the backwards Nei.
And when asked, Caldwell will explain “Don’t worry folks, we’re just stopping for ice”.
ShibaiDakine: Just read your comment; it appears that I unknowingly used the same analogy. My mistake! (Although it really does describe the current rail debacle).
November? Why not leave in October?
NEED THAT LAST PAYCHECK.
Everyone wants a turn to dip their beak.
He’s staying on until a permanent replace is named. Every met Formby? He teaches transportation law at the UH law school. The guy took a financial hit to join the City. He was at Goodwill Anderson before coming to the City. The fact is most of the guys talking about this have never met the guy and never worked with the guy. We need to encourage more people like him to get into government.
There is no doubt he’s a smart guy, that’s why he is bailing now on this disaster project. This is a mess created by Caldwell and HART, so why should he get stuck with it? I only wish Caldwell would have some class and resign, too.
Bingo alohaguy. More than anyone or anything else, Sneaky Eyes Cadwell, the Master of the Rail Disaster, needs to go. But all the King’s Horses and all the King’s Men will not be able to put rail together again. There are massive problems with what has been constructed so far, and even more massive issues to deal with going forward. Thank you for shoving this down our throat Moofi and Cadwell. Rail. You wanted it. You got it. Believe nothing the city tells you about rail. Nothing. The shibai has been in from the start. Suckas.
Double BINGO!!!
OUT with Krook!!!! Ethicless and gutless P O S
My take is a little different. It’s like doing two full time jobs. And the rail construction guy is too difficult to work with.
He’s also a lawyer and doesn’t know much about rail construction. The learning curve is too steep.
wiliki – Same problem Grabby boy had. No clue how to work rail on time, on budget. How to manage a government project. No leadership qualities. Just a leech on taxpayers. Just like all our elected bureaucrats.
Yes, he may be smart and teaches at the UH law school but what does he know about transportation and just how was he qualified to be the head of
the city DTS department?
He and Capt Kirk are responsible for the disaster of a bike lane on King Street which is both dangerous to bike riders, pedestrians and drivers
and has made driving on King St very slow due to the loss of two lanes of roadway.
When Djou becomes Mayor, I do hope that the very first thing he does is to dismantle the bike lane. Enough already with this social engineering, Agenda 21
bull.
Ih he is so great, why is rail a disastet?
Give me a break! He is responsible for doing a year-long study of a bike lane on the makai side of King Street then installing it on the mauka side. Smart? Good grief!
Call a doctor who can mend a Broken Hart. papaya project
I wish Caldwell would take the hint, too. Beat it, you’re a failure,too–just like your train.
If the public votes for him for a 2nd or even 3rd term, which is what he and the city council wants the public to vote to allow these guys to serve 12 years, then Gruber was so right that the majority of people are so easily manipulated and ‘Animal Farmed’. Even his own daughter brazenly spit in the face of the public by posting her video of her getting stoned and brazenly showing her disgust for Cayetano and the peon public by committing a serious crime in Hawaii of destroying her father’s political opponent campaign sign and expecting to get away with it, which she did. The Oahu rail project is a sad reflection of how easily people in Hawaii can be manipulated because they are so conditioned for their union leaders to telll them what to do and how to think. Even then single print local media source is part of the problem.
Well said inverse. If one looks back at the posts when the project was being considered, you wonder how is it possible for such an ill-conceived project to be approved. The proponents of rail new the history of Boston’s Big Dig, and they even recruited the same failed management. So the proposed “3 plus billion” project moved forward. Recall the number of posts, which stated it was a 10 billion plus dollar project? The big difference between the HI project and the mainland rail projects is that HI doesn’t have the population to support the massive cost. IMO, all the administrative changes are comparable to changing band leaders on the Titanic, AFTER it hit the iceberg.
Another key reason why the rail project was a failure from day one is because they can never compare rail lines on the mainland, Japan, Vancouver, etc. because ONLY in Hawaii Oahu gridlock traffic is a result of the weekday university and private school commuting crowd. If the rail does not provide an easier and faster way for these school commuters, they would never use the train. Besides starting in a empty field in Kapolei that is supposed to be new urban sprawl,community called Hoopili and then ending at Ala Moana Center and with stops every mile would pretty much guarantees using a bus/ train/ bus commuter solution would double the commute time over s single city country Express! bus that goes from Ewa Beach and Kapolei all the way to UH Manoa and Waikiki. The ONLY purpose of the Oahu rail project was for special interest to make money, politicians like Mufi and Kirk to gain power and developers to use the rail project to bypass all Oahu building codes and regulations
Kirk continues to put incompetent people on HART. Just look at what Challacombe has done to building department. If you can’t do your present job,how are you going to do your job plus take on a second bigger job?
I have ZERO confidence that rial will ever make it to Middle street. Such INCOMPETENCE.
SA stop LYING the original budget was 3 billion it has more than DOUBLED in cost so please tell the TRUTH !
They are part of the problem and motivated by $$$$$$$$$ like all the rest.
2004: Newly elected mayor Hannemann asserts that 34 miles of rail will cost $2.7 Billion.
Ref: http://www.newgeography.com/content/005156-live-honolulu-hart-rail-a-megaproject-failure-making
Perhaps all the VOLUNTEER HART board members are jealous that Capt. Kirk gets paid so well as a member of the TERRITORIAL bank board and thinking “fahgit about it”.
It would appear that kirk cladwell the naked emperor has always been good at taking care of #1 – i.e., himself.
1. His internship with power lord Dan Inouye where he met the daughter of a well-to-do family.
2. Marriage to that daughter.
3. First of two historic homes that had $300 a year property tax assessments.
4. Second of two historic homes that had $300 a year property tax assessments, which he removed when he first ran for mayor. No guarantee that he hasn’t quietly restored that low, low property tax.
5. A questionable acceptance of a $200,000 a year directorship with a financial institution that requires 24 hours of work a year. Pay-to-play “pretend” work? Pay back?
6. Almost $1 mill in donations from rail contractors and developers for his campaign war chest. More pay-to-play? You know that the contributions all came from those who got the contracts. So, does that count as pay-to-play.
7. You may say not so. It’s HART that made the decisions on contracts. Yeah, yeah, and who appointed them.
8. And last but not least, he promised he would get the toy choo choo done right. Yeah, it appears it was done right all right. Over $1.5 bill over budget and rising. Will that extraordinary excess end up as more pay-to-play? Yeah, sure, that’s so unfair to think that. Yeah, do you want to buy some hillside property called Diamond Head?
Pay the Feds back the $500M or so and take full control of this mess
Good decision, I wish him well!
Too bad the problems can’t be resolved. I love taking the light rail in Portland and Seattle.
Our rail is very similar to the elevated portion of Seattle’s successful LINK light rail system. Our rail will serve downtown, airport and sports stadium in the same manner as in Seattle.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Agree. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
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Once Djou is in charge, I hope the first thing he does is order HART to cut your monthly stipend so we wont be subjected to your endless blather.
Yes, there really should be full disclosure, but having paid pundits is all part of the game plan for such projects. And notice any of the pundits comments will end “for the future of our children”.
Don’t forget “Average locals”
I agree. Seattle rail is a nice ride. I caught it in China town many years ago to the airport station for a shuttle ride.
The rail cops caught me because I did not have a ticket. Every rider I could catch at the station said they were using a bus transfer to ride rail and couldn’t point me to the ticket puchase. Nobody buys tickets because they normally use bus to get to a station.
The cops and I with my luggage exited the next station and helped me with the ticket machine to buy a $1 ticket to airport station. Lucky for me I got no citation. IIRC I used the ticket for the shuttle bus at the staion.
wiliki – Tried and got caught trying to be a leech on Seattle’s rail system. Willfully failed to do your advance research to know how to pay and ride. So funny. Just like your comments.
Give the Feds their money back, cut the losses. Time to stop funding this grab for money with no results. The City says it will NOT help with our traffic problem, traffic will be worse. With all the building being approved out West, we will have gridlock because nothing productive is being done. Tear the ugly pillars down or make it an express bus lane. Get rid of HART and Caldwell. The Board and the Mayor are both failures and wasting taxpayers money that could fix our crumbling infrastructure.
Rats fighting each other to claw their way out the exit.
RAIL FAIL!!!!
Run Forrest. Run.
This HART Board looks dysfunctional. How can they get any work done?
” There are so many interesting things I have left to tackle in life”. Yeah right !!!!!! You cannot handle this mess that was handed to you period!!!! Just fess up to the public and admit this is a major f@$” up!
Aren’t all City Directors appointed by the the mayor? He’s just quitting because he knows Caldwell will no longer be mayor after November and the new mayor is going to replace him.
QUICK!!!!!
Numbacoolieboss, Weewili perv, UkuBS, Vectum….get together, compare notes, brain storm!!!
How you gonna SPIN this one?????
Great point shopoholic, I asked myself the same question. Surely the public won’t buy the tripling of costs due to delays (although Gruber would likely believe it’s still possible). The former and current rail management have won. They’ve already toasted their success. All will be well taken care of; it happens with politicians all the time. Somebody will be left with a real mess to clean up, And keep in mind, the toughest part of rail construction hasn’t yet begun.
I wonder if Charles Djou still wants to be mayor? Yet, can we stand another 4 years of Caldwell?
rats and sinking ships
On a high note, this fall and winter weather forecast is mild. The actual top connection of rail should extend from East Kapolei to Nimitz.
And then freeze there as a monument to deceit, lies and corruption of MooFee and his lackey Krook
Should have kept Grabby for his remaining year. At least he was paid for. Then again, who would want this job?
There are no consequences for the management of rail. It’s all part of the plan (or maybe “game” would be more appropriate). It was known ahead of time that the project would be over budget. It was known that certain players would be “replaced”. The citizens of Hawaii were duped and now they have no recourse. There’s a big debt that someone must pay. Guess who…taxpayers. Next there will be a request for the Federal government to bail out Hawaii, so the bill can be paid by the rest of the country by simply adding it to the country’s debt. Rail is a great example of why a two party system can be beneficial.
Watch…he’ll come back as head of DPP to protect Caldwell from public looking at all illegal variances granted. No wonder Atta is on medical leave
Ford Fujiyama is too busy screwing up traffic and airport. That was one of big disappointments made by Ige. This guy was right in the thick of it before with rampant poor decision making & thievery which has resulted in our embarrassing international airport. No wonder rail is screwed up so badly
No doubt, Formby sees the handwriting on the wall and does not want to be associated with this disaster of a rail project. He definitely has a soft landing all set up for himself
probably either with UH or the state Dept of Transportation which are two favorite places guys like him go to cruise to retirement.
Watch and see where he goes. He is getting out while the getting is good. Some of the other clowns appointed by Caldwell, no doubt are also looking for greener pastures.
Let’s put Krook out to pasture too…on Kalaupapa!
I am ok with finishing the rail as long as anyone who had anything to do with its conception resigns from public service.
All the “Anti’s” need to conduct a massive protest at the state capitol and invite All the news media to show the world that the train will bankrupt the state.
Anyone besides another career government bureaucrat or politician.
I think I saw Caldwell in the Aloha parade, but had trouble distinguishing him from a$$ on the horse he was riding.
Stop insulting horse’s a$$es!!
Very funny and totally appropriate.
Is Toru Hamayasu or Larry Miller still available?
Bunch of clowns! END RAIL NOW, before we sink even further!! This project is not & never was for the good of the city & county of Honolulu. Some FAT CATS are getting rich off of this project.
The Feds will be satisfied with anything. They have a vested interest and failure of HART will cause the Feds to fail themselves. That’s why they wouldn’t kill this out of control gorilla.
I believe that the Feds will accept a plan to convert from steel wheels to urban magnetic levitation (maglev) if it meets the terms of the Full Funding Grant Agreement. The city can stay within the estimated collections of $8+ billion (the 21-year surcharge plus $1.55 billion in federally obligated funds) and not only meet the FFGA requirements but even exceed them in total alignment. If the Feds are persuaded that the city will perform as expected financially, they might even be willing to add New Starts funding to increase the alignment from 20 to 32 miles (as per the maglev plan). Perhaps the new HART CEO will be someone with the intellect and “backbone” to actually act autonomously from the city administration.
Frank, frank, frank. Would you please quit flogging the dead maglev horse. It is bothering all the flies and vultures feeding on the carcass.
Fact is when the Nei is 300% over budget with steel on steel rail, it would be 400-500% over budget with maglev.
One fact you continue to ignore is no other city in the USA is using it. This speaks volumes for the high cost to build it for short rail runs.
Let it go Frank. No one cares about maglev.
That “dead maglev horse” has been operational in Nagoya, Japan since 2005, became operational in Incheon, Korea and Changsha, China earlier this year, will soon be operational in Beijing, and is slated for development in St. Petersburg, Russia and in Tel Aviv, Israel (going with an American designed, NASA-backed, pod system). I am telling you that it will cost LESS to convert to maglev, and have briefed the numbers to the City Council and at a town hall meeting. Please explain how you know it will cost more.
Word on the street is that Mark Garrity is also leaving in November.
Does anyone remember the name Eileen Anderson? Our Mayor, who in 1982 cancelled plans for the original (I think) rail project. Done, over with, pau – after years of planning and a full EIS. Mayor Anderson then moved to Las Vegas after her one term was up and was never heard from again. The price for the whole thing was around a billion. We could have been using it all these years, but no.
But this one $12 Billion if we’re lucky, built from nowhere to a mall only tourists use now. oh save us
I believe your info is wrong. It was Mayor Frank Fasi who had a rail project on a fast track, but it was derailed in 1992 by the City Council on its final and critical vote for the project when Councilwoman Rene Mansho switched her two previous yea votes to nay.
With City Department heads and deputies at the helm of rail, who will be doing the city’s work? Their performance at doing the city work was already below average, what can we expect different with Rail, which is much more complex and visible?