It’s crucial to fund, finish rail — for all

This Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council is scheduled to vote to authorize the issuance of up to $350 million in general obligation bonds to pay for the Honolulu rail transit project’s expenses through January 2018.

We will also consider the memorandum of understanding that sets the terms and conditions to ensure that taxpayers get their money back. Both of these measures deserve your support.

On June 7, the Council secured the six votes required by the City Charter to support the bond issuance. Our actions signaled our commitment to our partners in the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the state Legislature that the city strongly supports the completion of the 20-mile, 21-station route from East Kapolei to Ala Moana.

We are in the midst of managing the largest public works project in Hawaii’s history. A project that will improve the quality of life for our residents and visitors.

There have been setbacks, and we face financial and logistical challenges that will require solutions generated by the collective effort of government, the private sector and our community.

As frustrating as these issues are, they are not unique for a publicly funded endeavor of this size and scope, nor do they outweigh the benefits of completing the project.

Rail is so much more than a train anchoring a multi-modal transportation system. It is the economic engine that will drive Oahu’s future.

By completing rail from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, the minimum operating segment (MOS) as outlined by the full funding grant agreement (FFGA) the city signed with the FTA, we can better manage the transportation and infrastructure needs of Oahu’s growing population.

Transit-oriented development (TOD) will create new jobs and much-needed affordable housing. Rail is not only the catalyst for TOD, but the completion of the MOS is necessary for the independent utility, an efficient reliable transporta- tion system that will guarantee ridership and provide equal access to these new economic opportunities.

The project also will provide our residents and visitors with another alternative to using fossil fuel-burning vehicles to navigate through some of the worst traffic congestion in America.

We respect the right of the anti-rail lobby to voice their opinions, and we welcome their input. But so far they offer no viable solutions.

They cite gross mismanagement as the core problem, then suggest changing the technology, altering the sources of funding, or scrapping the project altogether.

All of these proposals would cost taxpayers a fortune and negatively impact the way the federal government considers future funding for Hawaii projects.

The city would lose tremendous revenue, our transportation system would be incomplete, and so many plans for affordable residential and economic development would be left in limbo.

And for those who think that they won’t benefit from rail because they won’t ride it, please consider our fellow citizens, especially our workforce, who depends on public transportation for their livelihoods. The completion of rail and the MOS is everyone’s skin in the game.

Joey Manahan is a Honolulu City Councilman (Kalihi, Salt Lake, Mapunapuna).