Issue Position: Transportation

Issue Position

There are serious transportation issues on every island that must be addressed. President Obama and the current Congress have embarked on a major initiative to modernize the transportation infrastructure of this country. We need to capitalize on every opportunity while we can. As Governor, I will use my accumulated knowledge and relationships to reach out to Washington, D.C. to assist in our plans to restore and revitalize our airports, harbors and roads.

We will also look at how we design our communities to encourage alternative modes of transportation including walking, biking, and mass transit. We need to get more serious and strict about road safety and street racing, provide safe outlets for motor sports enthusiasts, and boost law enforcement on our highways.

With only a single major airline, I believe people need additional options for interisland travel, including the possibility of another airline and an interisland ferry. An interisland ferry system is critical for the future of Hawaii--particularly with regard to increasing food security, supporting local businesses, and improving quality of life. I believe it can be done in a way that is environmentally safe, culturally sensitive, and economically feasible. As one of the earliest supporters of the Hawaii Superferry project, I was dismayed that cutting corners on assessing environmental impacts and inadequate communication with the community eventually stopped the project. For an interisland ferry project to be revived, it must be seen not as a single project, but as part of a comprehensive and integrated economic and transportation plan. I will explore new public-private partnership opportunities including consultation with the military, to develop a successful initiative and ensure all parties are involved and heard.

The other major transportation issue that could potentially affect all people in Hawaii is the City and County of Honolulu's rail transit project. At a cost of over $5 billion, it will be the largest public works project in the history of Hawaii. For decades, I have been and remain today a supporter of rail transit. In Congress, I delivered on every single funding request for the current project. Rail can incorporate senior and workforce housing adjacent to rail stations; help to contain urban sprawl into rural communities; incorporate small businesses, healthcare, child care and dependent care centers in transit-oriented development; safely transport students to school; and provide an efficient and potentially green alternative to our overcrowded roadways.

Unfortunately, the proper development of rail transit may now be at risk due to political considerations. Whether you are for rail or against it, everyone loses if the project is not done right. I am committed to transparency, respecting different views, and building broad citizen commitment to the project with the betterment of Hawaii as the sole consideration guiding our way--all now lacking. As Governor, I will continue to advocate for rail and be a strong partner with the City and County of Honolulu. I will also address transportation challenges on all islands and make sure that Neighbor Island taxpayers do not end up paying for Honolulu's rail project.

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