Governor May Hinder Honolulu Light Rail

A $5.35 billion plan to build a light rail system in Honolulu, Hawaii, is on rocky ground as the state's governor has joined the opposition movement.

1 minute read

January 13, 2010, 8:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

"Honolulu's planned heavy rail transit system, which would run 20.2 miles between East Kapolei and Ala Mona Center by 2019, is expected to serve more than 100,000 daily riders along its 21-station elevated guideway. That is, if the city is able to secure a federal New Starts Full Funding Grant Agreement as planned in 2011, and as long as it is capable of maintaining adequate tax revenue to pay for the line.

That's where Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle (R), now in the last year of her second term, and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann (D), in the second year of his second term, strongly disagree."

Voters have already approved the plan, and the Federal Transit Administration has begun preliminary engineering. But gathering federal funding for the plan ultimately relies on the governor, and she is currently debating the economics of such an expensive project.

FULL STORY: It's Governor Lingle versus Mayor Hannemann on Honolulu Rail Project

Monday, January 11, 2010 in the transport politic

Government / Politics Transportation Hawaii Light Rail Federal Funding Honolulu View More

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.