City officials opt to skip forum on rail transit project

A forum organized by City Councilman Tom Berg on the city’s rail transit project will be held tonight, but Mayor Peter Carlisle and other supporters of the $5.17 billion project won’t be attending.

The forum at the Mission Memorial Auditorium next to Honolulu Hale will include prominent critics of the project such as University of Hawaii civil engineering professor Panos Prevedouros and state Sen. Sam Slom.

Also attending will be Scott Foster of Advocates for Consumer Rights, Dennis Callan, president of the Hawaii Geographic Society, and others, according to Berg.

Berg said Carlisle, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation interim Executive Director Toru Hamayasu, city Department of Transportation Services Director Wayne Yoshioka and other rail supporters declined to attend.

The discussion will begin at 6 p.m. and will be recorded by Olelo Community Television. Free parking will be available at the Civic Center parking garage after 4 p.m.