Kapolei-Ala Moana Transit Route Advances To Final Vote

HONOLULU -- Mayor Mufi Hannemann's proposed 20-mile transit route from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center is one council vote away from final approval, but some people are not happy with it.

University of Hawaii students want the rail system to begin closer to town at Leeward Community College and end at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus.

"It is very concerning to me that the University of Hawaii at Manoa be included because it is going to give you the riders that you need to expand this thing period," UH student Grant Teichman said.

"If passed, it has to come to UH Manoa. For us it would be almost a failure if it didn't," UH student Christina Stidman said.

Consultants told council members that a Pearl City to UH Manoa route fails to meet a necessary federal cost criteria and would jeopardize federal funding.

---

PDF See Proposed Route | Join Discussion

---

"Basically if we choose that segment, it kills the project," Councilman Gary Okino said.

Kapolei community activists were furious at the attempt to change the route at this late stage.

"It is terribly wrong. It is an injustice to the leeward people who have waited so long and fought so long for rail," Kapolei Neighborhood Board member Maeda Timson said.

Leeward residents said the East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center route will ease their traffic woes.

Critics said that the route begins in the middle of nowhere.

"I am skeptical that the first three stops of the proposed MOS are in dirt fields," Councilman Charles Djou said.

When the full council meets next week to take a final vote on the mayor's proposed transit route, there are expected to be concerns from at least five members, but it is not expected to be enough to derail it.