Today’s post continues our series on the so-called “Y” words that we first mentioned a few days ago for the benefit of those still undecided on whether to back Honolulu’s rail project. We’ve already touched on Renewability and turn today to Reliability.
If you drive in Honolulu, you already know what a crap shoot it is to accurately predict when you’ll arrive at your destination. Surface streets or freeway, it makes no difference; traffic can block your progress when it’s least expected.
Many of us have scratched our heads as we sit in a jam on H-1 on days when “it shouldn’t be like this.” We recall a Saturday morning several weeks back when the highway was clogged for no apparent reason other than everybody wanted to be on it at once.
Rail will be different. Anyone who chooses to ride the system through the urban corridor between ewa and downtown will know their exact time of arrival before they even set foot on the train. Grade-separated transit is the only transportation mode that can do that – well, aside from short trips by foot.
It doesn’t take a crane smashing into an H-1 overpass to stall traffic for hours. A heavy downpour or a gravel spill can create a miles-long jam (like the one in the Star-Bulletin photo at the top taken by Dennis Oda).
Rail riders will be completely unaffected by surface disruptions. Reliability will be their reality, and this “Why” alone is probably enough to swing many undecided commuters over to rail.
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