We know Hawaii doesn’t appreciate comparison to mainland projects, so here is a comparison to a similar contemporary island project.

On the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic is building and operating a mostly subway system in its capital city of Santo Domingo.

The OPRET system was organized in 2005, the first line (north-south) was operating by 2009 (31 million rides per year after), and the west portion of the second line was operating by 2014. The eastern half of the second line was operational in 2018.

There are more than 20 miles of track and 34 stations, with annual ridership more than 61 million.

Note the four-year build cycle of each major section of this subway system — tunneled, not open-trench constructed.

It is so popular now that up to six lines are planned.

So where will the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation be in 2022, the next four-year cycle?

Embarrassing.

Mark Prose

Oracle, Ariz.

Click here to read more Letters to the Editor.