Mayor favors merger of transportation ops

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to merge rail, bus and paratransit operations under one agency managed by a mayoral administration.

Such a plan would transfer back to the city the now semiautonomous Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. HART currently oversees construction of the $6.57 billion rail project from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center.

During his fourth State of the City address, given to about 200 people at the Mission Memorial Auditorium on Monday night, Caldwell said that like others, “I’m frustrated” at the climbing costs and delays of what was a $5.26 billion project when he gave his third speech a year ago.

The longtime rail supporter, who in recent years has become the face of the controversial project, said, “For me, my reputation is on the line with this project.”

Caldwell contends putting all transportation operations under one administrative umbrella would make it more accountable to the public.

Once construction is completed, anticipated to be in 2021, operations would merge with bus and paratransit operations to form one department within the administration, under his proposal.

While many agree a merger of all municipal transportation operations is preferable, there is debate over whether they should come under an agency like HART, which consists of a board appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council, or under the administration itself.

Councilman Brandon Elefante, also an ardent rail supporter and Caldwell ally, said he is inclined to support merging operations but is hesitant to back moving all transportation operations back into the administration.

He noted that Oahu voters chose to create the authority when the question was put to them a number of years ago.

“We set up HART as a semiautonomous agency to oversee and make sure that we build this project,” Elefante said, adding that he would like to hear more about Caldwell’s plan.

The Honolulu Charter Commission is scheduled to take up amendments dealing with rail and other city transportation duties at its meeting at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Honolulu Hale.

DURING his 25-minute address, Caldwell stuck to the same themes and issues he’s made his priority from his inaugural 2013 speech and have occupied most of his time during his first three years as mayor: rail, homelessness, roads, sewers, buses and parks.

Caldwell is beginning the fourth and final year of his first term and has announced he will run for re-election this fall.

Taking a page from State of the Union addresses, Caldwell recognized everyday citizens on Oahu during his speech.

Among those recognized were a formerly homeless veteran and the landlord who housed him, new residents at the Hale Mauliola homeless transitional center, Leeward Coast residents who need to wake up early to beat traffic and community advocates who helped spruce up a city park in Waianae.

Caldwell said that of an $834 million capital improvements budget he is handing to the Council on Wednesday, $490 million will be for federally mandated wastewater facility projects.

CALDWELL announced that he will seek $21.6 million for parks projects from the Council, a follow-up to last year’s E Papa Kakou program to restore restrooms and playgrounds at city parks around Oahu. To date the city has restored and renovated 27 comfort stations and 16 playgrounds, exceeding the first-year goal of 24 comfort stations and 12 playgrounds.

Caldwell applauded Gov. David Ige, who sat in the front row Monday night, for working with the city to fight homelessness. “I believe by working together we are making a difference,” he said.

Only three of the nine Council members attended the address: Ron Menor, Kymberly Pine and Elefante.