Letter: Compare bus, rail costs beyond Middle Street

Eight rail stations are planned east of the Middle Street Transit Center. Five major destinations could be served by four express bus routes if the rail transit system ends at Middle Street: Downtown, Civic Center and Chinatown, Kakaako, Ala Moana and Waikiki (easing the load from Ala Moana to Waikiki).

The public deserves answers to three basic questions regarding operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of the rail/bus city transit system in the event rail ends at the Transit Center.

What would be the decrease in rail ridership and/or the increase in bus ridership?

How much would O&M costs decrease for rail and increase for TheBus?

What are the projected (actual and/or differential) O&M costs if the rail ends at either the Transit Center or Ala Moana Center?

One would expect the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the city to have already addressed and have answers to these questions.

Michael Ho

Moanalua Valley

Click here to read more Letters to the Editor.