Parking could cost more in Honolulu to pay for rail
HONOLULU (AP) — The Honolulu City Council is considering increasing parking prices and enforcement hours in an effort to raise $4 million for its rail project.
The City Council is scheduled to make a final decision on the bill during its June 7 meeting. Some parking rates in Waikiki and at downtown metered stalls could double in price under the proposal.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell has written the proposal to combat the rail project being massively over budget. The estimated price tag for the project has increased from about $5 billion in late 2014 to as much as $10 billion today.
Caldwell is calling on the city to have more “skin in the game” to fund the rail, but some residents are not excited about the parking changes.
“To me the mayor and those guys can’t manage the expenditures for the rail, so they are literally trying to nickel-and-dime residents every which way they can to pay for it,” said Lou Erteschik, Waikiki Neighborhood Board vice chairman. “That’s the kind of rate that you would pay for a downtown garage. It’s way overpriced.”
Waikiki metered stalls could increase to $3 an hour between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. in areas where it is now $1.50 an hour, and to $1.50 an hour where it is now 75 cents an hour. Parking for 10 minutes would cost 50 cents.
The proposal could also double the designated metered parking rates downtown to $3 an hour from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jon Nouchi, deputy director of the city Department of Transportation Services, said a previous parking study determined “that available parking is more desirable than low prices” and that higher pricing would encourage commuters to take the bus, bike or walk.
Nouchi said if implemented, the increased rates would take hold promptly.
Arson suspect arrested after series of brush fires
HONOLULU (AP) — A suspect has been arrested on a charge of arson after more than a dozen brush fires were reported in Honolulu’s Hawaii Kai area, police said.
The unidentified man was arrested Monday at the scene of a fire, said Lt. Michael Nakada.
His arrest came after firefighters responded to more than a dozen brush fires in the Kamilonui Valley area since January, most of them apparently set in the past two months.
“We’re hoping that this will put an end to it,” Nakada said.
Fire Capt. David Jenkins said investigators have found no evidence of a homeless encampment in the area.
Many of the fires broke out in places that were difficult for firefighters to reach by walking to them, so authorities had to rely on water drops from helicopters to douse the blazes.
Honolulu tests rail car on track for first time
WAIPAHU, Oahu (AP) — Honolulu rail officials are testing a rail car on the partly-built elevated guideway for the first time.
They took the rail car for a ride Tuesday, towing it between the Waipahu Transit Center and the West Loch Station.
The goal is to make sure there’s enough clearance along the rail line for the train and there are no obstacles in its path. About half of the railway, or 10 miles, has been built so far.
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit project has spent about $2.6 billion total, including more than $700 million in federal dollars.
But the rail project faces a funding shortfall estimated at $1.5 billion to $3 billion.
