If this budget is approved by the full city council at their meeting on June 10, we could end up with a 6.5 mile “Train to Nowhere,” or eventually a totally locally-funded $5.5 billion elevated, heavy, rail system. If it is elevated for the first 6.5 miles the entire system must be elevated. This will ruin our beautiful Honolulu.

It appears the mayor and some council members are setting the budget up this way so if there is no federal approval, they will build the first segment with our money and forgo the federal funds.

At the budget committee meeting 2 council members- Council members Charles Djou and Duke Bainum- proposed the city insert a proviso that would require the city to complete the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process before committing local funds. Completing the EIS process means receiving a “Record of Decision”.

The city transportation director claimed the federal process requires this already. This is true but he did not mention that the state EIS does not require it thus they may be trying to skirt the federal process. Therefore council members Gary Okino, Nestor Garcia, and Todd Apo did not allow this proviso.

Even if the mayor follows the federal process the financial plan is unworkable. The latest Council on Revenues forecast projects the GET tax will be OVER $1.0 billion short. We will likely get $500 million less in federal funds (or we may not get any federal funding) than what was being claimed. We will not have paid off a $500 million rail bond. Honolulu will be $2 billion short. The city gets money from property taxes, fees, and currently 1/2% excise tax to pay for rail. Where do you suppose the money will come from? Will we go bankrupt like California cities?

The city transportation director has reluctantly admitted that rail will be subsidized by property taxes. Were you counting on that?

Although rail passed by a very slim margin in November, it surely would not have passed if voters knew then what they know now. For starters the city spent millions of tax dollars on a massive advertising and PR campaign, and convinced voters there would be significant federal funding for rail.

We know now that is not likely. Voters were not able to study the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) because it was released days before the election. People did not realize the system would be entirely elevated.

Now every single environmental group in Honolulu is opposed to elevated rail in downtown because it will destroy the character of Honolulu. Plus, the city council changed the route it touted shortly after the election.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and some council members are counting on a passive citizenry.

Two council members, Ikaika Anderson and Rod Tam represent two of the districts that voted against rail in November but their positions may be uncertain.

If you live in their districts contact them by June 9 and let them know your thoughts.

· Ikaika Anderson ph768-5003; fax768-5011; mailto:ianderson@honolulu.gov

· Rod Tam ph768-5006; mailto:rtam@honolulu.gov

· Link to all council members and district alignments: http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/council/ccl.htm

Please advise them that you do not want them to vote for the city budget on June 10 as it pertains to rail UNLESS there is a proviso in it that states “no local funds shall be encumbered for rail until the Federal Transit Administration issues a "Record of Decision” which they must do if we are to ever receive any federal funds.

Also remind your council member that on November 5, 2008 Mayor Hanneman said “……….I’ve always said that we won’t begin construction without a Record of Decision.”

Tell your council member to help the mayor keep his promise.

Transportation & Rail...