BY PANOS PREVEDOUROS PHD – If you let them, Parsons Brinkerhoff will recommend the right solution … for both transportation and the local economy.
A quote from Washington Post article titled Busway — not light rail — would bring more jobs, money to upper Montgomery, analysis finds: A $772 million light-rail line would generate a total “economic impact” of $1.3 billion between 2014 and 2050, while a $491 million bus rapid transit line would spur $2.2 billion, according to the study by consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff.
Notice that Parsons Brinckerhoff is the current consultant for Honolulu’s rail project. In 2005, Parsons Brinckerhoff officials were asked by Mayor Mufi Hannemann to prove rail is right. Six years earlier the same consultant under much less pressure from Mayor Jeremy Harris had recommenced Bus Rapid Transit for Honolulu.
Recall that all along I have been saying that HOT Lanes for express buses would solve Honolulu’s traffic congestion and construction jobs issues for 1/4 the cost of rail and less than 1/4 the permanent cost later on for operation and maintenance.