Let it ride, majority says of rail
DENNIS ODA / Sept. 8
A span over the H-1 freeway will connect the rail station at Leeward Community College to one in Pearl City.
DENNIS ODA / SEPT. 8
A span over the H-1 freeway will connect the rail station at Leeward Community College to one in Pearl City.
With nearly 300 concrete columns planted firmly in the ground from East Kapolei through Central Oahu and nearly six miles of guideway built on top of them, most Oahu residents now say they think rail construction should proceed, the latest Hawaii Poll shows.
A majority of island residents — 57 percent — said they would prefer to see work on the 20-mile, 21-station system proceed, while 40 percent would like the rail work to stop, according to the survey by Ward Research Inc. for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
It’s the first time that a clear majority have said they would like to see rail work continue since Ward first asked that question in May 2011. The latest results come with rail construction in full swing and potentially severe financial consequences to reversing course now.
Meanwhile, the project’s costs have climbed by about $1.3 billion in the past year or so. The Hawaii Poll results on rail show that majority support to keep the work going will quickly erode if those costs keep climbing.
Currently, officials estimate rail will cost about $6.57 billion to complete, although no one yet knows what the final price tag will be. Only 41 percent of the Oahu residents surveyed for the poll said they would support ongoing work if rail’s price tag were to reach $8 billion. Then, only 30 percent of the total surveyed said they would support the project if it hits $10 billion. Finally, only 22 percent of the total surveyed said they would support it at $12 billion.
The Hawaii Poll, conducted Dec. 28-Jan. 9 on cellphones and landlines, included 433 registered voters on Oahu. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.7 points.
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“The general population, lay people, can we even grasp what a billion dollars is? … Where do you draw the line when it’s in billions? It’s really the psychology of it,” Ward Research President Rebecca Ward said Thursday. “If I’m somewhat in support, I might be fine with $6.57 billion. I might be fine with spending a little more. But I want to draw the line somewhere.”
The latest estimates from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, which oversees rail construction, put the cost of completely stopping the project and tearing it down at nearly $2.5 billion. That includes the costs to repay the federal funds that the agency has drawn, pay off remaining contract obligations, deal with the claims from ending contracts early and tear down what’s already been built. It doesn’t include the more than $1.85 billion that’s already been spent on the project.
Some of those who participated in the poll called it a no-win situation, having to choose whether to proceed with a project with skyrocketing costs or stop and take such a tremendous financial hit.
“You know, my opinion is, what can we do? We’re already in motion. Either way we’re going to be losers,” Kaneohe resident Daniel Chong said in a follow-up interview Thursday. The Oahu native told pollsters that he was OK with proceeding at a cost of $8 billion but not $10 billion. “The price won’t stop growing until it’s done. I don’t know which way to go. If you stop you’re going to be a loser. If you go ahead you’re going to be a loser.”
Kapolei resident Bert Lee told pollsters he would support a $10 billion price tag but not a $12 billion tag.
“I’m OK because it got started, right? Once it got started it’s too expensive to knock down and stop a project,” Lee added Thursday. “I can’t fathom that, but at a certain time you got to cap it at $10 billion.” Lee said that he didn’t support the project prior to construction because he was wary of how fast it was being organized without a clear price tag or indication of how it might affect Oahu’s public bus system.
Some 15 percent of the Oahu residents surveyed said that they planned to use the rail system for their daily commute. Of those residents living from Aiea to Waianae, 24 percent said they would use rail for their daily commute.
In the January 2015 Hawaii Poll, more Oahu residents flagged rail as the most important issue facing the island, at 19 percent. In this year’s poll, rail came in second to homelessness, which 24 percent of those surveyed flagged as the most important issue. Rail got 16 percent this year.
Both issues could hamper Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s re-election prospects this year, Ward said.
“To the extent that rail is impacting the mayor’s approval ratings, we don’t know,” she said. But both rail and homelessness are “causing erosion in the mayor’s popularity.”
The Hawaii Poll, conducted by Ward Research Inc. Dec. 28-Jan. 9 on cellphones and landlines, included 433 registered voters on Oahu. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.7 points.
The October 2012 poll, on cellphones and landlines, included 522 registered voters on Oahu. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.2 points.
The July 2012 poll, on cellphones and landlines, included 509 registered voters on Oahu. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.3 points.
The February 2012 poll, on cellphones and landlines, included 549 registered voters on Oahu. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.2 points.
The May 2011 poll, on cellphones and landlines, included 443 registered voters on Oahu. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.7 points.
154 responses to “Let it ride, majority says of rail”
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I think the poll is grossly inaccurate if the hypothetical cost increases of billions of dollars were not translated to something that could be easily understood, like property taxes on Oahu would have to increase by 15% or that the general excise tax for Oahu residents and business owners would have to increase from 4.5% to 5%.
Yes, the poll is a sham because it doesn’t get to the heart of the matter: the cost! The poll should be asking if they approve of spending ten times more for rail per than any other city spent for their rail, per taxpayer. The poll should ask if they approve of seeing their property taxes possibly double to pay for the eternal operation and maintenance of rail, because current taxes do NOT! Of course, the biased Star Advertiser wouldn’t like to take a more truthful and honest poll, because they won’t like the answer.
I would be interested to see the breakdown of where people stood on this by geographical area. My guess is the anyone east of the Stadium or north of the Koolau’s continue to be opposed to it. The rest of the irrationals are simply hoping all everyone else will ride it so that their drives in to work each day are faster. Good luck; your neighbors are all hoping the same thing.
I don’t think anyone realizes the total cost of this boondoggle beyond the construction costs. It’s going to take an ever-increasing amount to operate and maintain the system which you can bet will mean more taxes, either through property or GET. Lucky you live Hawaii and I’m glad I got out!
We need to focus more on the long term benefits and the need for rail infrastructure to meet the transportation challenges in a densely populated urban area. The costs we pay in the near future to build rail will lose relevance decades from now when riders will be enjoying relief from driving in the congestion. H-3 ended up costing much more than planned but who cares now?
ukuleleblue – Years from now when property taxes have gone up over 10% with yearly increases of 1-2% to fund the out of control yearly Operation & Maintenance costs for rail, people will look back and ask how they could have fallen for the false siren song of rail.
Having the crushing costs of rail dumped on them by their parents, many of our children and grandchildren will not be able to live a good life on the Nei, moving to the mainland to obtain their goal.
This latest fluff, premade, collusion between HART and Ward Research Inc shows how desperate rail minions are to spin their ever increasing money pit in a good light. Sorry losers, we can see right through you.
The public hasn’t been fooled by the news media attempt to kneecap rail with misleading and sometimes false claims.
ukuleleblue says: “H-3 ended up costing much more than planned but who cares now?”
H3 was built by the federal government with money borrowed from China. And “free” money like this and the “who cares!” attitude by people like you is the reason we have mortgaged our our children nd grand children’s future to the Chinese government in return for unfettered spending.
Which still has nothing to do with this rail project that is being paid for by making struggling families’ food, medicine, rent, and clothing more expensive to feed this giant to powerful construction companies and rich developers.
Now, is today the day you finally tell us where it is that you live on the mainland and what your connection is to this mess of a rail project?
Unless the project is completed as planned, the benefits of rail will not be achieved. If they are not achieved, then our children and grandchildren will have no future.
Yep– that’s the key. What’s the geographical breakdown of those polled?
wilikitutu – Have to laugh at how utterly weak minded pro railers think rail operation has any impact on someone’s future. Fact is rail is irrelevant when you look at the big picture.
What is relevant is the crushing costs of ever increasing yearly rail subsidies piled on the backs of our children and grandchildren by their parents. This growing tax will affect their financial future, how much it adds to their yearly tax bill. Under this ever increasing rail tax, they will not be able to live a good life on the Nei, forcing many to move to the mainland to obtain their goal of the good life.
Next to the pension money pits, rail will fit in just fine. One more hand in taxpayer’s pockets.
True and that is the key to why voters never voted on rail knowing the full facts. Mufi lied about that and said vote on what kind of rail we should have. Sadly he never revealed true costs or that the rail had the wrong route and technology.
Hannemann told the truth – according to the current planning at the time. IIRC there was some testimony on costs in terms of the monthly surchange on residents.
Of course, there has been the criticisum that times may not always be so rosy. At about $5 billion that would amount to $20 per resident per month for 10 years. A $10 billion cost would ammount to $40 per month.
At this time we are probably not receiving the $20 or perhaps projected costs have gone up a few dollars a month. The prudent thing to do would be to extend the surcharge for 5 years.
wilikitutu – If you are paying down debt over 10 years, you need to add in the interest charges. Nothing is free. In the end payoff amount would be far higher than in your figures.
Also need to add on the yearly cost of rai’s O&M. Currently estimated at $10 million per month, $120 million per year, increasing every year.
One of the largest cost areas will be the salaries and pensions of the union rail workers. As the union will featherbed (to protect someone, especially a group of workers, too much and make things easy for them) rail, taxpayers will be paying for union members basically standing around watching people come and go, doing nothing to earn their pay.
The prudent thing would be to end rail at the middle street bus terminal and save a billion dollars plus the gridlock of downtown city streets torn up for months. Current cost estimates for this work are way too low. Always change orders, unforeseen extra work, you name it.
So how much is Grabby paying you to blog for rail?
The project should end at (Aloha Stadium, Middle St or Aala Park) where the $6.5 Billion is depleted.
The public should take another vote for more taxes rise on the taxpayer to allow extension of the rail at another time!
Yeah. Why don’t we have a say in this?
Can my puppies vote, too?
To end rail at the stadium would be a waste of money, no one would ride it. At a minimum, rail needs to go to middle street, ending it there makes much more sense.
The ultimate destination is UH Manoa, not Ala Moana. So rail will not reach its goal until it reaches Manoa.
Phasing rail to Middle St or to Aala Park will benefit the taxpayer who does not know how much rail will cost to Ala Moana at his time.
Again, rail should be phased to Middle St or where ever $6.5 Billion will build the rail.
Let the Voters again determine how much to pay to complete rail to UH Manoa.
ululeleboo & wiliki are the only 2 on the island other than grabourmoneyandrun or the pitter patter pothole song of bong Caldwell ( old snake eyes himself) that want the MONSTER BOONDOGGLE ELEVATED SCCREECHING GIANT CEMENT STATIONED OLD FASHIONED STEEL ON STEEL RUNAWAY CHOO CHOO
Hanamauka and what says, both of your comments are right on!!
that’s why we have rail now..because of our stupidity..majority didn’t stop it back then..majority won’t stop it right now
SA has the audacity to print this article. Let’s put this to a real vote with a yes or no selection box now that the smoke, mirrors, and false promises have been exposed!!!
$XX Billions of dollars spent for an alternative to driving. smh.
This poll shows Mufi and Caldwell’s original plan to put the rail project past the point of no return has worked. It will cost double what they originally said, just like every other major government project on Oahu before it. All the major politicians have known this from day one. The GE tax increase will be made permanent after Ige runs for re-election. Everything is going according to their original plan. Mission accomplished for PRP and the developers of Hawaii.
agree…all very cynical
A Majority of 2 as it seems like the entire poll is a sham kinda like the last election BOUGHT AND PAID FOR THAT WHAT IT IS
ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAVE BEEN BRIBED AND PROBABLY THE POLSTER AS WELL IN THIS CASE. CHECK THIS OUT
the nefarious Pacific Resource Partnership supported Carol Fukunaga with $86,000 in advertising for her 2012 election. AND under a different name, they gave Brandon Elefante $105,000 in advertising support. With this money, the percentage of Elefante’s support from the Ho’opili and Rail construction community jumped to 91%. Pretty amazing! He sure wasn’t going to vote against them!
Here’s The Friends of Makakilo breakdown on City Council campaign contributions:
Council Member Total Contributions Amount from Hoopili/Rail Interests Percent
Kymberly Pine $160,879 $116,801 72%
Ernie Martin $451,240 $268,017 59%
Ikaika Anderson $139,518 $100,668 72%
Trevor Ozawa $183,320 $104,550 57%
Ann Kobayashi $57,136 $24,450 43%
Carol Fukunaga $258,321 $104,565 40%
Joey Manahan $182,215 $83,512 46%
Brandon Elefante $37,322 $24,292 65%
Ron Menor $48,405 $34,650 72%
I’m waiting for ukuleleblue to make his/her appearance. No rail discussion is “complete” without ukuleleblue.
Ukulele is different from a uku.
This article is as ridiculously meaningless as uku’s comments.
When a project is shoved down the public ‘ s throat, we have no choice but to agree with the government.
Yea, the nerve eh? The government pulled a wool over our eyes big time!!
I’m neutral when it comes to rail construction…. I see the positive side of this project and like everything else has its negative side. The cost of it obvious… But I don’t understand why everyone is surprised when the cost started to sky rocket. I mean when was the last time we had a public project that made the cost and completion date? Never! I mean we’re talking about Hawaii politics here who sucks at managing money and making non-sense law.
Anyway…
The project has started and already spent billions of dollar. I don’t get the mindset of people who wants the project to stop because its costing another billions of dollar. I mean I get it, thats a lot of money… But obviously the project has nothing to do wit it… Its the management and the politics. If you think stopping and scrapping the project would save money, well you’re just contradicting yourself. Doing so would LITERALLY flushing billions of dollars and people spending hrs in traffic for nothing. On top of that hundreds of millions of dollar more to dismantle all existing structures… I’d rather see billion of dollar (with management overhaul) spent to complete the project, rather than pretending that destroying the existing structures would bring those money back in our pocket.
No. Not stopping and scrapping it. Ending it at Middle Street would still salvage what is already built and saving billions of dollars.
A common sense voice in the desert!
OG: Your comments are usually correct….extended construction, change orders, legal challenges and delays all add costs to infrastructure projects. But….in Charleston SC the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, an eight lane cable stayed bridge @ $630 million, and as design build project, came in a year ahead of schedule and under budget. It can be done. The project had everyone’s cooperation, full community support, and no legal hold ups adding ridiculous legal fees and delays. It can work!
How can you compare a bridge to a 20 mile rail? A bridge is in one place from A to B with unused space between. This rail travels 20 miles above earth with footprints thru every possible mix of active society. A bridge is soooo simple compared to a rail.
Tell that to the engineers that design bridges and constructions workers floating hundreds of feet in space how easy it is to build bridges. The design of an elevated rail system is no more complex and that is not the focus of the main point. The comment was made that “when was the last time anyone heard of a public works project coming in under original costs?” Sorry if you were confused. I thought I had explained but apparently I did not make myself clear.
Nothing wrong with with Hawaii politics. Democrats are with the people. They understand the politics. Republicans don’t.
Doesn’t matter what party they are from. A bureaucrat is a bureaucrat. Only in it to take care of #1. Exactly why hundreds of millions of taxpayer money is wasted ever year, why our infrastructure is crumbling, UH Manoa is an endless money pit, our Keiki are receiving a substandard education, the list is endless.
As I’ve always said. Just another day in the little 7th world of Hawaii Nei.
you’re a dope!!
Yes if people don’t like Hawaii, I suggest they move to Flint Michigan, a city that has really been messed up by republicans. Way to go Michigan republicans. Talk about costs, this is it.
OG, people are NOT surprised that the costs increased over the first “nice” projections. As mentioned in the article, people are RESIGNED to letting the rail project continue because we’re already halfway stuck in it. Most of the posters here are P.O.ed because (as we predicted) this bad project is doing exactly what we predicted–and there’s nothing we can do about it now. What you are saying is correct, but almost NOBODY here needs to be told that; we already know it.
They probably polled people who work on rail construction. You can get whatever poll results you want by focusing on the groups and calling the areas that support the answer you want. Most people I know from across the island and in Leeward Oahu think rail should stop because of the rising cost to build and operate rail which we cannot afford.
Nor will it be Used. The people who use it will be the same as those who now ride the BUS. Totally bogus Poll
and anybody with a brain is against the RAIL. How come when I talk to people 96 % are against and want it stopped.
Anyhow welcome to HAWAII WHERE THE RUSTING SCREECHING HATED RAIL REARS ITS UGLY HEAD AGAIN & AGAIN as the deception continues
to create traffic and business problems throughout the corridor.
Only the future will tell but I can say that since 2008 I have been against the RAIL and have watched as the BOONDOGGLE has been shoved down the throats of the people with deception, Lies and backroom deals and I think the poll is WRONG and it appears as the same Union members that voted in Caldwell must have answered the phone. Hate to call names but the people who are pro-RAIL are I_D_I_O_T_S
“Currently, officials estimate rail will cost about $6.57 billion to complete, although no one yet knows what the final price tag will be.”
What private citizen could run their life or home that way? “No one knows what the final price tag will be???” Well, in that case, forge ahead. Idiots.
433 polled from almost a million on Oahu. That’s less than .1% of Oahu’s population. Let the spin begin!
Sampling numbers obtain via telephone does not smell right. For instance what is the total amount of that population as compared to the sample actually taken. When someone call my phone and if I detect a sampling, I hang up! Thus, the vast majority of the mature taxpayers are not being polled. Mostly the Millennials who have little or direct relationship to responsible fiscal management or represent a cross-section of taxpayers. This poll is flawed or in askew to favor the pro rail advocates.
Statistical sampling in polls ends up remarkably close to the actual percentages when actual votes are taken. We see this all the time we hope that our candidate who is down in the polls ends up losing by the same margin as estimated in the poll sample.
As a scientist we know the game that can be played with Stats: as the saying goes:”there are lies, then there are damn lies and there are are statistics” polls on the phone are beyond stats. How about a real vote with several individual Qs…like “build rail only to UH” since that is the 30%(DOT numbers) of daily cars from the West. or “Build rail no matter the cost?”(the 6.5B is a joke estimate. the true cost will be 20B !!)
In this case the expected error ranges to about 3%.
re: politicians in Hawaii ….except when the polls show they’re winning and they don’t.
UB = BS
O’ahu has more than 433 puppies.
Unbelievable. The author says “A majority of island residents…” would want to see the rail proceed. How can that be anywhere close to being true when you know that they didn’t ask all of the island residents? Just read the comments on this website every time there is an article about the rail and you will find that a large majority of the readers reject the rail.
It would also be interesting to find out who paid for the survey.
By and large, the vocal minority complains on this website. We don’t hear from the general public.
This is the long range plan of all developers. Keep it going and the public will eventually tire of the subject and cave in. Oahu voters are weak.
And have very low standards
More like no standards in Hawaii.
24% would use the rail for their daily commute. They must already be current bus riders.
The ultimate destination is UH Manoa, not Ala Moana. So rail will not reach its goal until it reaches Manoa.
Phasing rail to Middle St or to Aala Park at this time will benefit the taxpayer who does not know how much rail will cost to Ala Moana.
Again, rail should be phased to Middle St or where ever $6.5 Billion will build the rail.
Let the Voters again determine how much they are willing to have their taxes raised to pay to complete rail to UH Manoa.
This is the same Hawaii Poll that said Hillary is winning?
I hope so.
I would doubt that the powers that be would.be willing to test this on a ballot.
KILL THE RAIL!!! Another stupid project shoved down our throats.
I would like to see the bleeding stop. Just end it where it is now. Its only going to get worse, by the time HART is done, nobody will care. Self driving cars will be all the rage.
The autonomous vehicle, some predict, will replace many of today’s forms of transportation and radically expand mobility by allowing people, including the young, old, and disabled, to get around without having to walk, without having to know how to drive, and without having to wait for a bus or train. Operating without a driver and using electricity for power, the autonomous vehicle could be cheap to operate and environmentally friendly. It could, in fact, replace car ownership for many households.
How exactly will autonomous vehicles affect our transport systems and our cities in general? As I’ll describe below, they may radically alter the types of public transportation regions provide for their citizens, and they may increase—or decrease—the sheer amount of driving people do. Given the fact that these types of cars are almost definitely coming at some point, it is time to begin the conversation on how to handle them, since their impact on the urban environment is a matter not only of private research and development but also of public policy questions about space, access, and who decides how our transportation system will work in the future.
from (ITF) International Transport Forum symposium.
I saw the same prediction at the 1964 World’s Fair. Keep dreaming!
It’s always 20 years off in the future.
I thought there would be teleporters in the future, beam me up Scotty! If you had dengue fever, it will even take that out of your system.
I’m hearing it’s very possible the rail could be stopped.
Billions to complete and millions to maintain.
A million here a million there, pretty soon it starts to add up to real money.
“A majority of island residents — 57 percent — said they would prefer to see work on the 20-mile, 21-station system proceed, while 40 percent would like the rail work to stop”>>> Ahh, the utter complacency of our local majority that has succeeded in us being at the wrong end of every “rating” list put out. Keep up the good work. :/
Here is how the poll question was asked: Do you want to lose millions by stopping the rail now? Here is how it should have been asked: Would you like to stop the rail now or have the State bleed you and your next generations with taxes for the next 100 years to support this entity?
The ultimate destination is UH Manoa, not Ala Moana. So rail will not reach its goal until it reaches Manoa.
Phasing rail to Middle St or to Aala Park at this time will benefit the taxpayer who does not know how much rail will cost to Ala Moana.
Again, rail should be phased to Middle St or where ever $6.5 Billion will build the rail.
Let the Taxpayers again vote determine how much they are willing to have their taxes raised to pay to complete rail to UH Manoa.
I wonder if those who were polled realize how much is $1.5 billion? Civil beat said that amount would pay for everyone’s gasoline (at today’s price) for an entire year. Wow!
One billion is a thousand million.
Yeah, it would have been nice if they also asked in the survey: “Or would you rather the same money be spent on (homelessness, road repairs, water infrastructure, debt reduction, lower taxes).
How much will the project cost? We don’t know
How much will fares be? We don’t know
What percent of traffic will be reduced by this project? Maybe 2%
How much will the power plant dedicated for use by the project cost? We don’t know
Sometimes one has to “read between the lines” to realize what’s actually going on and for this project it has nothing to do with traffic mitigation.
Why don’t we put this issue on the ballot rather than keep doing these polls. Let the voter’s decide. Have yes mean yeas and no mean no.
We never were given that opportunity in the first place. There is no way on earth our fearless elected officials will give us that chance now.
Remember, as the legislature “en masse” voted to approve the tax extension and IGNORED the basic “cost/benefit” questions……the FIX was already in.
HART’s numbers are not reliable. I can understand why some people would say they support keeping the project going if they were told it would cost $2.5B to stop. Was there a question about stopping at Middle Street?
Ward Research seemed to avoid our household or maybe they had a call list that was preordained. I would have told them to stop the madness…which should have not started in the first place. Seems like there’s a lot of doubt and frustration on the National and Local level with how government is being influenced ($ / PAC’s) and subsequently managed (?). A sense of doing what’s right just isn’t there.
Of course the poll’s question didn’t lay out the economics to build, let alone operate and maintain. As of the present estimate, it will cost $2 billion more to complete the project then what we have already spent ($1.85 billion) plus the cost of stopping it ($2.5 billion). People don’t have a clue. But, I guess if you ask such a simple question without the basis and facts behind it you get the result you want. The pols are going to beat us over the head with this survey from now until election day.
The ultimate destination is UH Manoa, not Ala Moana. So rail will not reach its goal until it reaches Manoa.
Phasing rail to Middle St or to Aala Park at this time will benefit the taxpayer who does not know how much rail will cost to Ala Moana.
Again, rail should be phased to Middle St or where ever $6.5 Billion will build the rail.
Let the Taxpayers again vote determine how much they are willing to have their taxes raised to pay to complete rail to UH Manoa.
OK, 57% of THOSE SURVEYED threw in the towel. They are even willing to concede a final cost of $10 billion. Sabi!!! Our glorious emperor-has-no-clothes cladwell and his hand-picked HART commission have not yet given us any inkling of what the annual maintenance and running costs will be. Given if we let cladwell continue to “run” the city, it will be just as sloppy as everything else he has done. So, Aiona, use that as your theme. Why give cladwell another four years to botch things up further and make Oahu liveable only for his millionaire friends, both resident and non-resident? That would be your campaign slogan.
So, solution is, even if we concede the rail will be built on our property tax increases of 25-plus per cent, that we dispatch cladwell and just pick anyone else for mayor. That way we can at least get revenge for his gross incompetence. White, SuperPAC PRP, and the Kakaako developers will give him a posh job somewhere to assuage his loss, so not to worry. After all, cladwell has sold his soul to them, and given us Oahu residents never-ending pot holes, broken water mains, and hordes of Z-Nation homeless.
Personally, I would like to find out who ub and all those other blues boys are, tar and feather them, and run them out of town.
This was NO independent poll and many out there know it. The numbesr were manufactured just like anything else having to do with the rail.
Ridiculously funny. lol
There’s an independent way to validate the poll. Just run two independent polls at the same time.
Lowest bidder wins in Hawaii.
Some of my friends told me that they should pass it because they aren’t going to pay for it, and by the time they are completed with the project, they won’t be around to pay for its upkeep. Really sad attitude to strap future generations and potentially going down the same way that Puerto Rico did.
Welcome to Hawaii.
By the time rail is up and running our tax base would be ready to find operations.
Our population is shrinking, so is the tax base. Guess again.
Baloney, why are we building 20,000 units in Hoopili and Koa Ridge? These represent unmet housing needs for about 80,000 residents. We also expect thousands more units in high density developments around rail stations. Many out of state want to return to the aina.
Baloney. 20,000 units in Hoopili and Koa Ridge will hold 80,000 residents. Thousands of high density units around rail stations will accomodate even more.
Wilitut is a dope – regurgitating what kirk and grabby say…very sickening!!
Let’s extend the rail to UH Manoa! Let’s build a rail spur into Waikiki! Let’s extend the rail to Ko Olina! Let’s build a rail spur to Mililani!
You trying to be sarcastic? LOL
Shellback says: “Let’s extend the rail to UH Manoa! Let’s build a rail spur into Waikiki! Let’s extend the rail to Ko Olina! Let’s build a rail spur to Mililani!”
Slow down there slick. Let’s get accurate numbers for this part first and figure out how we’re going to pay for it first. HART still hasn’t addressed the hundreds of million for new electrical infrastructure and out City Council haven’t yet caved to the developers and construction insiders to approve the latest tax increase to feed this monster.
Wouldn’t you like to see what this does to our property taxes, general excise taxes, bus fares and routes before you start spending even more money we don’t have to make it easier to get from the Disney Hotel to Morton’s Steakhouse?
It’s up to HECO to meet this need. The PUC requires utillities to update their long range plans on a regular basis. Last I heard, HECO plans 50 years and we have been talking rail for the past 30 years. If HECO doesn’t have plans, then we should give NextEra a chance.
clown!!!
Right you fool. How about a bridge to Maui or Kawaii?
Perhaps a spur to Mars or Uranus it would probably cost less than the BOONOGGLE THE CITY OF HONOLULU IS TRYING TO JUSTIFY
Actually, the government is hoping that no one will ride the rail. Easier to maintain.
Ward Research Inc may have a credibility problem until they explain where the funding for this pole came from.
Gotta laugh at the questions HART prepared for them to ask. As in this question, “Costs have been increasing for the 20-mile Honolulu rail project, and that the latest estimates are the project will cost $6.57 billion. Would you continue to support the project if it cost $8/$10/$12 billion?
What should have been asked is, “As rail is 100% over budget and climbing, no guaranteed completion date in sight, yearly operations and maintenance costs are just an estimate at $120 million per year. Are you prepared to pay a 10% or more increase in your property taxes plus possible yearly increases and other new taxes to subsidize rail and the pension/benefits for rail union workers? Want to bet the answer would be a resounding No.
Another question, “Are you prepared to have city streets torn up for months with daily gridlock in support of rail?
Another question, “What do you think of the fact rail management has lost control of the costs, 100% over budget with no end in sight? Should rail continue with no end in cost increases?
Another question, “Do you think current rail management has done a very good job of controlling costs, keeping the public informed, ensuring all areas of rail are correctly worked on time to standard? Again the answer would be a resounding No.
So laughable how HART, elected bureaucrats, Ward Research Inc colluded to make a fluff survey with the results they wanted. Willfully omitting the hard questions about rail people are really concerned about.
Just another day in the backwards Nei.
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/MASSIVE-NEW-BIPARTISAN-RAIL-PROPERTY-TAX-REVEALED.html?soid=1109660143480&aid=j6j5OLdrEr4
Ask yourself when was the last time you pulled out a bit early? Both sides get pissy and there’s a sticky mess.
You should be wearing condoms
I reuse mine.
This group of polls poll has to be way off target simply, because many people are simply tired even angered at the constant phone polls. Imyself hang up onthe constatn interuption, of the pestering calls. Morning noon and night.
Keep going; I’m almost there.
Baloney, HART fabricated PR. No one knows where the power will come from, how much the O&M will be. This project should be up for VOTE on the next ballot with YES OR NO and not the past Steel on Steel or Rubber. Corruption reeks from this project and putting a former Rail lobbyist in charge of determining if this question should be on the ballot or not is ridiculous. Can’t count on the Attorney General to do anything as he was the Managing Director and equally guilty under Carlisle. Everything about this project has been about lies and pocketing MONEY.
Ok, “57% majority”, bend over and prepare to take it for the rest of us!
This is only the second installment of articles – can’t wait to see how the author spins the ending.
I wonder how accurate this poll really is? I can only state my opinion but whenever a pollster of any kind phones me and identifies herself and requests time to answer questions, I kindly refuse . I feel there are many folks that have this same attitude about our privacy, depending upon age, ethnicity and how busy we are. Call it the silent majority but the rail project will be the defining subject as to whom we will choose as the next mayor. My vote will be for the anti-rail candidate.
AGREE, we will all vote for the anti RAIL candidate as PRP will try to destroy all who enter the race!!!
more and more lies……. i never got a chance to do the survey.
My puppies voted in behalf for you, nippy68.
there was no way. i ate your puppies before the put their paw print on the survey. lmao!!!
My puppies would have voted in your favor.
The damage has been done. A lot of livelihoods has been affected. Probably more to come. That’s why more people say ‘let it ride’. No sense stopping now.
The rail itself is not the sad issue here. What is sad is how cheap our elected politicians takes the average citizen in our state. The rail is literally shoved down our throats, the politicos and their cronies are lining their pockets, media and stats are manipulated to show that rail is positive, and in the end only Joe Average will continue to suffer and pay. Bottom line is: SOMEONE IS MAKING A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY WITH BILLIONS BEING SPENT ON RAIL, AND FURTHER BILLIONS BEING DUMPED IN LUXURY HIGH RISES ALL OVER KAKAAKO-ALA MOANA, and if this reflects a rosy, growing economy, then explain the homeless situation, and the article about the majority of everyone in Hawaii living paycheck to paycheck.
It looks nothing like the model at Kapolei Hale City Hall. It’s fraud representation.
Are the majority ready to pay for the significant O&M costing 100s of millions a year and increasing and all the future extensions necessary to make the system functional (if it ever can be) and being called for by groups of citizens? The S-A didn’t ask them that.
Nobody polled me
Majority want the rail. We know that. The question is to where. Ala Moana or to the University at Manoa?
It would be nice if we could take another vote to see if the majority really want THIS rail. As to your question of where, I think that was decided a long time ago. Manoa is where it should have gone but Ala Moana is where it’s decided.
The same people who were against the H-3 freeway, back in the 1970s, are now using it with a smile.
Let’s get a new mayor and then decide!
This is INSANE.. It was sold to taxpayers at 3.2 Billion and went to UH. Oh how CORRUPTION loves these islands !!
Unbelievable survey.
In conversation I have encountered 2 people in the last year that support the rail as opposed to a lost count of those opposed and want to see it dead. This goes for land development as well. The commercialization and over development of the aina is apalling! Enuff already!
great poll
wili you’re a shill!!! Nothing original to add – just keep spewing the crap fed to you…
Let’s face reality. Geez if the city is committed to build the 20 mile rail system and nearly 1/3 of the columns and guideway are completed, and the project costs have climbed by about $1.3 billion in the past year and no one yet knows what the final price tag will be, now is not the time to start skimping and haggling. It’s already been predicted by many citizens from the get go, that this rail project would be costly beyond the proposed budget but deaf ears, pride, stupidity and greed has put the city into this financial crisis. Will the determining factor be the final cost or getting the project completed as planned? Either get the project completed or stop the project and stop all the haggling…one way or the other. The issue about the cost, continuing the project or aborting the project is a reflection of weak and poor leadership. Com-on man, do it or don’t do it and be done with it.
This is a rail circus! Whats next ?? Ige going bring in the refugees to ride the rail ?? C’mon Man !!
My puppies get first dibs on riding the rail. They were born here in America.
Bogus poll and results. Clear attempt to control the narrative and influence those who are on the fence.
Put it up for vote and lets see what the results are.
No way, I don’t believe this poll! We’ll be lucky if it’s UNDER $10Billion! Start packing if you can’t afford this paradise.
People will NEVER give up their cars.
This vote may have come out differently when people understand their property taxes are going up because of rail.
Electrical system could barely handle the load during the summer when ACs and fans were running almost non-stop. Add the rail’s electrical consumption to the mix and it’ll be a hot mess.
Rail will be powered by the menehune.
According to article above. 2.5 billion to completely stop an tear down rail plus 1.85B already spent = 4.35 billion
cost of rail at 6.57B – 4.35B to remove now = 2.22B taxpayers save
cost of rail at 8B – 4.35B to remove now = 3.65B taxpayers save.
cost of rail at 10B – 4.35B to remove now = 5.65B taxpayers save.
cost of rail at 12B (most likely completed cost) – 4.35B to remove now = 7.65B Taxpayers Save
You would think that politicians would want to be considered heroes or great if they saved taxpayers Billions of dollars.
Bottom line is that Contractors, Developers, Politicians, SA, etc. are not out there to save taxpayers monies if it cuts into their profits.
The ultimate destination is UH Manoa, not Ala Moana. So rail will not reach its goal until it reaches Manoa.
Phasing rail to Middle St or to Aala Park at this time will benefit the taxpayer who does not know how much rail will cost to Ala Moana.
Again, rail should be phased to Middle St or where ever $6.5 Billion will build the rail.
Let the Taxpayers again vote determine how much they are willing to have their taxes raised to pay to complete rail to UH Manoa.
first – any good survey taker can manipulate the outcome of the survey! how? – 1) the way the question is crafted, 2) the way the question is accented as it is read, 3) the factors used to compare and correlate the responses, 4) restricting the survey sampling to only a minimal few who wish to give a response (some who refuse to take the time to respond may actually have very strong negative feelings but wish not to participate by phone), 5) who asked and paid for the survey, 6) what was the desired affect requested by the sponsor…
What was the specific, verbatim question that was asked in the poll? The way you ask a question can very often skew the results.
Money pit.
Remember the good old days when rail was promoted at $3.5 billion? It’s approaching double the cost and we still have not heard a drop as to how much annual maintenance will cost. I find this poll very hard to believe. Did John White of PRP do the poll?
SA should save their money on useless Polls on rail. No use trying to find flaws in Poll survey. Even with a 100% vote for No Rail, Rail will continue to chug along as long as Kirk is mayor.
Bogus poll with predetermined “results” to convince the sheepeople the rail is “supported”.