HONOLULU, HAWAII – Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. today called on the Honolulu City Council to place a measure on the November general election ballot that would allow the people of O‘ahu to vote on the current rail transit plan.
“The Honolulu City Council should exercise its authority to place a measure on the November general election ballot to let the people of O‘ahu decide whether they want to move forward with the current rail transit plan,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “The public should be allowed to vote on what will be the most expensive project in the history of O‘ahu.”
Stop Rail Now, a group of citizens opposed to rail and train transit, is circulating a petition to place a measure on an election ballot that would require an ordinance to indefinitely prohibit the use of rail or train transit as an alternative transportation option on O‘ahu.
“As a resident of Kapolei, I am acutely aware of the traffic problems we face, and although I have many unanswered questions about the current rail transit plan, I believe the petition should be limited in focus to the current plan – not the overall concept of rail and train transit,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “The people of O‘ahu deserve to have the final say on the rail transit plan.”
“It appears that both sides of the issue are confident that they have the support of the people,” he added. “If that is the case, there should be no problem letting the public affirm its position.”
The Honolulu City Council could place the rail transit plan on the November general election ballot as a proposed charter amendment by a two-thirds majority council vote on three separate days.
Travis Taylor is a spokesperson for the Lt. Governor