Try Transit into Tourism...

“WE WILL RIDE!” The crowds of high school and college students shouted this at a rally last summer, after a congressman gave his motivational bit:

“What do we want?”
“Rail!”
“When do we want it?”
“Now!”
“What do we want to do?”
“Go?”
“Go…FAST!”

Honestly, it was comical how surprised the congressman really was at his audience’s confusion after his third motivational question. He proceeded to chant “Go rail, go!” with such syntax that the crowd began to sound like they were reading a “See Spot Run!” book.

This was before the rail project was approved. Since last summer, it’s a “go” for “go rail, go”. Still yet, rail transit in Hawaii has been a controversial topic plaguing voters from eighteen to eighty. Many of my friends and peers are involved with this cause, which is why I attended that particular rally. The pros and cons have been stated and restated: the rail will save people commute time, reduce traffic and pollution, and give construction workers jobs, but will cost all tax payers (even those who “would not” benefit from the rail) money and would take FOREVER to complete, if at all.

And as I am interested in Hawaii’s economy, I question the rail through this lens: how will/can the rail help to raise or support Hawaii’s economy? Can it? I believe so; thus, I support the rail.

How? First, it would create job opportunities, which is always a great stimulus for the economy. The construction industry is in need of a boost of business, and the rail project would definitely help.

Second, I believe the rail would bring tourists to branch out further than Waikiki (the tourist town in Oahu). In our current rail-less situation, some tourists use the bus system, but not all are comfortable with it since riding the bus often requires a lot of transfers. This makes bus riding inconvenient for heavy shoppers, which keeps the tourists who want to spend close to Waikiki and town. It’s fair to assume that the tourists who currently use the bus systems would also use the rail. Not to mention that Japanese nationals are familiar and comfortable with the concept of rail, since that is the main means of transit in Japan (I focus on Japanese tourists because they bring the most money to Hawaii’s economy). With more tourists using the rail, and visiting other parts of Oahu, local vendors and stores would prosper and expand, creating more jobs and currency flow.

And hey, will we have little rail stations? Or rail stops? Because around and/or in rail stations and/or stops, realistically, would be food vendors and convenience stores, creating, again, more job opportunities and flow of money.

Every chance Hawaii gets to create opportunities such as these, we should take. I view the rail as an investment. Though it will cost tax payers roughly 50 cents a day, totaling $4000 over 15 years, it will save them money in the future. If they use the rail, they will pay less to commute. If they drive, they will pay less for gas because traffic will decrease. And whether or not the area their local traffic is affected by the rail, the economic benefits will help them to get a job or make more money.

Can the rail help our economy? Yes. There are many other questions regarding rail transit that, however, remain unanswered. As my pro-rail friend says: “we’ll see”. But no worry beef curry, the rail will prevail. Shoots cuz, we go.