A Transit Authority takes the development and operations of the rail system out of the City Department of Transportation Services (鈥淒TS鈥�). Two immediate benefits are (i) It provides focus – DTS is charged with all of the other City transportation needs and projects already; and (ii) a Mayoral appointee will no longer be directly in charge of the project.

The proposed Transit Authority would include a mix of members, appointed by both the Mayor and the City Council, providing a check and balance between the two branches of city government. Granted, politics will never be completely removed from any project of this magnitude. However, this separation from direct City department implementation is a much better format than would otherwise exist.

A Transit Authority is a model used successfully throughout the country for mass transit projects. In meeting with the Federal Transit Administration and Congressional Staff in early October, all were interested to hear about the prospects of our Transit Authority vote and expressed their positive view of such an authority for a project like ours. Over the years, I have met with transit authorities in cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, and New York, all of which have used authorities to develop and operate large scale projects like ours. The Transit Authority will be able to work WITH the Mayor and Council 鈥� not FOR them. The Authority will bring in expertise, specific to our rail project, with the necessary focus to provide success. This is a prioritization that cannot otherwise be guaranteed.

The Transit Authority will also be able to guide our Transit Oriented Development (鈥淭OD”) throughout the project. While rail brings needed transportation solutions, perhaps more important is the land use benefits that will significantly improve our island for generations to come. The cry to 鈥渒eep the country, country鈥� continues to grow. In order to avoid continued urban sprawl in areas that should remain open, we must be able to develop and grow in appropriate locations. TOD will provide such benefits, and the Transit Authority, tasked with coordinating TOD within the development of the rail project, is another important reason to vote YES.

Opponent arguments against the Transit Authority are misplaced. Some attempt to use this proposal to yet again argue against the rail project itself. This is not a vote on the rail project. That vote was taken and passed in 2008. This is a vote about how we implement the project, and even if this proposal fails to pass, the project keeps moving forward. A no vote only means that we will have a more difficult time developing and operating the system, leading to inefficiencies and issues that even rail opponents would not like to see.

Second, some argue that since our project does not cross jurisdictional lines (i.e. it is solely within the City and County of Honolulu), there is no reason for a Transit Authority. Not true. Certainly, one of the benefits of transit authorities implemented in other state is that they did help administer project across county and city boundaries. However, that鈥檚 just one benefit of an Authority. The many others necessitate a YES vote for this proposal.

Whether or not you support that rail project, you should vote YES and support the creation of the Transit Authority. It is the best way to develop and operate our rail project. A no vote will not stop the project. Please vote YES and together, we will move Honolulu into a brighter future for all of us.

The post The Last Word: Todd Apo on Why Honolulu Needs a Transit Authority appeared first on 天美视频.