LaHood Visits Honolulu to Discuss ($5.5 Billion) Rail Project

Associated Press ^ | March 23, 2011

[reaganaut1]

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is meeting with Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle to discuss the city's planned $5.5 billion commuter rail line.

LaHood, Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and other officials were to join Carlisle at a briefing Wednesday on the rail transit project. LaHood oversees the Federal Transit Administration, which has pledged to sign an agreement providing at least $1.5 billion for the rail.

LaHood plans to tour the port and talk with people about how to "rev up this economy in Hawaii."

This is LaHood's first visit to the state since being appointed by President Barack Obama. He arrived Tuesday and attended a reception with local and state lawmakers.

[reaganaut1]

We are running trillion dollar deficits. Stop the insanity! If commuter rail in Honolulu is really worth $5.5 billion, let the state of Hawaii and the private sector finance it.

If a government shutdown is necessary to stop all this wasteful spending, so be it.

[Obadiah]

A rail project - on an island. Is there any sanity left on the planet. There are only two highways on Oahu — H1 and H2, right next to the garbage can named Mahalo.

[for-q-clinton]

My thoughts exactly. I was thinking what are they going to do build a train bridge from hawaii to california?

[Nachum]

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[Army Air Corps]

Gooberment Choo-choo ping.

[GeronL]

Hawaii is not big enough to need a high speed train!

[TADSLOS]

LaHood plans to tour the port and talk with people about how to "rev up this economy in Hawaii."

wow.

[Sacajaweau]

We were in Hawaii 40 years ago. A high speed rail is absurd. A rail to where??

[dennisw]

From Dog the Bounty Hunter I can see half the Island is on meth. That’s enough speed for the time being. Besides, the Natives will have Injun style casinos soon when they get tribal recognition from the hacks in DC.

[Crucial]

Seems like a high speed rail would disrupt fragile ecosystems. /s

[Mopp4]

Oahu is 44 miles long by 30 miles wide. And they're looking at a $5.5 billion rail line ???

How long can it take to make the drive from one side to the other ? This is beyond insane...

[musicman]

"LaHood Visits Honolulu to Discuss ($5.5 Billion) Rail Project"

[Joe Boucher]

I am some what surprised no one has built a fast train from L.A. to Vegas,
Always one of the busiest airline routes.
If a dime could be made it would be there.

[OrioleFan]

Now I know where the money, Kasich told the feds to keep when he cancelled the Ohio high speed rail project, is going.

[Vendome]

A railroad on an island? LOL

This guy is a complete nut.

[Jewels1091]

The island is 35 miles long...what on earth do they need a rail for??????

[smokingfrog]

Commuter boats would be faster, and you don’t have to build tracks.

[Calvin Locke]

I stopped off in Honolulu for a couple of days in the late 1980s. On
one of the touristy trips, the bus driver cynically pointed out the
highway construction crews adding a foot to the height of the
concrete highway divider for no really good reason other than to
provide jobs for relatives of state politicians for the next 10 years.

LaHood needs to be undergo a 90 day psychiatric observation before
he can even think about spending another dime.

[steve86]

Be sure and build it right next to the shoreline so the next tsunami can take it out.