Bus service cuts related to rail

To paraphrase Shakespeare, city Transportation Director Wayne Yoshioka doth protest too much.

Over the past month, Yoshioka stated at least six timesthat thecity is reducing bus service to various parts of Oahu, but that this reduction has nothing to do with rail.

Yoshioka says the reduction is due to the increased cost of diesel fuel, estimated to be $3 million for the upcoming year.

That, fellow citizens, is $8,200 a day. How many pennies per passenger would it take to cover $8,200 a day? Not many, since more than 200,000 individuals ride the bus every day.

Having followed Yoshioka’s comments and actions over the past four years, I feel comfortable stating that this reduction in service has everything to do with rail.

Gary Wassel
Makiki

Case was victor in PBS debate

Ed Case won the PBS Hawaii debate.

The Star-Advertiser’s reporting of the televised debate between U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and Case was very lackluster and bland compared to what actually happened.

I urge all of Hawaii to take the time and watch it, see for yourself and decide for yourself, because there probably won’t be another one, as Hirono’s campaign would never take that chance after this debate.

Sono Hirose-Hulbert
Honolulu

Lanai could be bought by state

Question of the day: If Lanai is for sale, why isn’t the state of Hawaii taking this golden opportunity to buy it back?

Paul Fasi
Kula, Maui

HECO failing to control costs

Hawaiian Electric Co. continues to use the same excuse for the increasingly high electricity rates it is charging ratepayers ("HECO’s residential rates edge up in June," Star-Advertiser, June 13).

This reason is highly self-serving and questionable because HECO has had many years to implement appropriate action to minimize the impact of the rising cost of fuel, such as entering long-term contracts and utilizing other types of fuel, such as natural gas, photovoltaics and other energy sources.

Specifically, what is HECO doing to minimize the cost of electricity to ratepayers, including providing electricity at the lowest cost possible?

HECO is allowed to easily pass on its higher cost of fuel to ratepayers.

It is time for all the ratepayers to demand that HECO be totally accountable. The state Public Utilities Commission should do its job and protect us from excessive and unreasonable rate increases.

Richard Ching
Kuliouou Valley

BRT superior in many ways

A Bus Rapid Transit system would surely be rapid compared to the 42 minutes it would take for the train to go at an average 29 miles per hour from Kapolei to Ala Moana with 19 required stops.

The BRT would have express buses using a single lane that could be built along the proposed rail line at a fraction of the cost. These "super" buses would be able to go to Makaha, Waianae, Ewa Beach, Mililani and other areas not scheduled to get rail.

Unlike rail, the "super" buses would have enough seats for nearly all riders and would have Wi-Fi connections for riders to begin their workday as soon as they get on the bus.

Contrary to what the pro-rail groups want us to believe, there really is an alternative that beats rail in all ways.

Kenny Stevens
Ewa Beach

City must keep rail on track

Thanks, state Land Use Commission, or, no thanks?

Whichever way you feel, the decision has been made. Now the city inherits the proposed plans showing high, medium- and low-density development, and, yes, rail transit stations. Ho‘opili’s plans hinge on rail transit and its stations. We need smart growth in Ewa, not sprawl; we need transit-oriented development there and in town. I know we need growth, but I, for one, hope the conversion of prime agricultural land to urban has reached an end.

Now we need city leaders who won’t backtrack on transportation decisions made after years of study and a public referendum. We need city leaders who understand the need to get the most out of our limited land and hold developers’ feet to the fire to ensure it is delivered.

Abandoning the rail project would force Ho‘opili to scale back due to its traffic impacts, and once again we will have suburban sprawl instead of a city.

Jim Hayes
Candidate, City Council District 5 (Manoa)