Honolulu's Transit Matter

Honolulu seems well on its way to develop a rail transit system, even though tax revenues have fallen in light of the recession. The issue seems to always cause a deep amount of tsuris (pain and suffering) and angry comments. However, I think that new data supports the development of the system.

First off, anyone who has traveled to Honolulu knows that fast growing suburbs on the Western and Central parts of the island have only one road into and out of downtown, and that is the H-1 Interstate. The only way of course to expand the highway or build an alternate requires the use of eminent domain, and that is rife with its own political problems.

A study by the Economist, however, finds that the cost of parking in Downtown Honolulu exceeds that of most major American cities. Honolulu even exceeds places like Madrid and Paris. Given that people in Hawaii also pay significantly more for gasoline, have to sit on the H-1 for much longer than any comparable metropolitan area of its size, and pay significantly more for parking, transit makes sense. It will not reduce traffic, but it gives people an alternative in terms of both movement and price.