Cayetano's Transit Plan: Back to the Future

[ellisonz]

By Chad Blair 09/27/2012
Chad Blair/Civil Beat

Instead of being a candidate running against something, Ben Cayetano is now a candidate running for something.

On Thursday the mayoral hopeful and former Hawaii governor unveiled a comprehensive traffic solution plan that includes as its centerpiece an express bus rapid transit system, or BRT.

The plan, called FAST — "flexible, affordable, smart transportation" — also calls for added traffic lanes on two major arterials, improved synchronization of traffic signals, short underpasses at three Kapiolani Boulevard intersections and a two-mile elevated, reversible Nimitz Highway flyover.

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Cayetano's support for BRT is not new. He's been singing its praises for months now, and he blames local media for not paying enough attention. Nor is his campaign platform solely focused on ending the $5.26 billion Honolulu rail system.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/09/27/17245-cayetanos-transit-plan-back-to-the-future/

You can read his full plan here: http://voteben2012.com/rail-rapid-transit/fast/ - I'm not all that impressed by his approach - it strikes me as an all of the above approach that isn't exclusive of doing rail. I'm particularly intrigued as to how Cayetano plans to build underpasses in town without seriously altering its fabric. It's a cheaper, but also probably more disruptive approach than doing rail. I think a big part of the problem with rail to date is that it's only a single line when realistically we need a bigger system to truly present an alternative to cars.

- don't hurt me.

[ellisonz]

1. Also, I find it continually amusing to see the Cayetano campaign engaging...

...in the Civil Beat comment sections. IMHO it appears almost desperate in its attempt to shape public opinion. Never seen such behavior from a campaign before don't hurt me