
PANOS AND THE FACTS:
* Each household on Oahu will have to pay $11,480 for its share of
the rail project.
* According to the EIS, we taxpayers are funding a system that will
cost over $800,000 per car removed from the road.
"Many have questioned my judgment on stopping the rail project (if
I am elected) despite the pro-rail charter amendment. My point from
the beginning has been that if the Hannemann Administration
included the above facts in its $6 million pro-rail propaganda
campaign in 2008 only a tiny minority would have still voted in
favor of the project.
"This September, voters will once again have the opportunity to
make their voices heard. They can decide to spend $11,480 of their
own money on a project that will cost over $800,000 for every car
removed from the road, or they can implement real traffic solutions
that will reduce 30 times more congestion than rail for nearly zero
cost to Hawaii's taxpayer.
"The politicians plan to waste the taxpayer's money. I will repeal
the rail tax and let the taxpayers to keep their money. The choice
between electing a politician or an engineer couldn't be
clearer."
FACTS supporting postcard mailer (attached)
The cost to households:
* Total Estimated Cost of the rail project: $5.5 billion
* City and County of Honolulu obligation: $4 billion
* Portion of obligation borne by the GET paid by visitors (15%
according to tax foundation): $600,000,000
* Obligation paid for by City and County Taxpayers:
$3,400,000,000
* Number of Households on Oahu: 296,176
Cost per household: $11,480
Cost per car removed:
* Total cost of rail $5.5 billion
* Total reduction of car trips: 40,000
* Average number of trips per car: 6
* Total car reduction: 6,666
Cost per car: $825,082