Persuasive Essay Comm215
The Benefits of The Honolulu Rail System
COMM215
The Benefits of The Honolulu Rail System
In 2005 Honolulu was approved funding for the Honolulu Rail System, ever since that decision there has been a large amount of controversy surrounding the Honolulu Rail System and although some residents may say it is a bad idea, I believe that the rail system may provide many benefits to the residents and tourist to Hawaii. The route for the rail system will start in East Kapolei and end in the Ala Moana Center, running twenty miles with twenty one stops, taking approximately forty two minutes to ride from the beginning to the end. The benefits to the Honolulu Rail System are that the rail will reduce traffic congestion, enhance the economy, and have many of environmental and health advantages. According to "Forbes" (2012), “While it ranks as the 53rd most populous city in the U.S., Honolulu tops the INRIX rankings as having the nation’s most congested traffic corridors,” (para. 3). Traffic on Oahu is a serious problem and will only get worse. Many people may disagree with the Rail System but no one is able to provide an answer to improve the traffic congestion. The rail system is the most sensible way to reduce most of the traffic congestion and make transit times shorter by taking thousands of cars off the roads. Every year that goes by, more and more cars will be on the freeways, the rail system can alleviate not just the number of cars but the number of wrecks and fatalities. “By the year 2030, 116,300 trips per workday will be expected to run; this should take up to 40,000 cars off the road per workday.” ("Honolulu Elevated Train Update", 2012). Not only will The Rail System reduce the number of cars on the freeway but it will increase the number of parking spaces and condense street congestion on the island of Oahu. Living in Hawaii, I have realized that the job market is slim. The rail construction project should provide as many as 10,000 jobs in
COMM215
The Benefits of The Honolulu Rail System
In 2005 Honolulu was approved funding for the Honolulu Rail System, ever since that decision there has been a large amount of controversy surrounding the Honolulu Rail System and although some residents may say it is a bad idea, I believe that the rail system may provide many benefits to the residents and tourist to Hawaii. The route for the rail system will start in East Kapolei and end in the Ala Moana Center, running twenty miles with twenty one stops, taking approximately forty two minutes to ride from the beginning to the end. The benefits to the Honolulu Rail System are that the rail will reduce traffic congestion, enhance the economy, and have many of environmental and health advantages. According to "Forbes" (2012), “While it ranks as the 53rd most populous city in the U.S., Honolulu tops the INRIX rankings as having the nation’s most congested traffic corridors,” (para. 3). Traffic on Oahu is a serious problem and will only get worse. Many people may disagree with the Rail System but no one is able to provide an answer to improve the traffic congestion. The rail system is the most sensible way to reduce most of the traffic congestion and make transit times shorter by taking thousands of cars off the roads. Every year that goes by, more and more cars will be on the freeways, the rail system can alleviate not just the number of cars but the number of wrecks and fatalities. “By the year 2030, 116,300 trips per workday will be expected to run; this should take up to 40,000 cars off the road per workday.” ("Honolulu Elevated Train Update", 2012). Not only will The Rail System reduce the number of cars on the freeway but it will increase the number of parking spaces and condense street congestion on the island of Oahu. Living in Hawaii, I have realized that the job market is slim. The rail construction project should provide as many as 10,000 jobs in
References: Forbes. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2012/05/25/the-most- traffic-jammed-cities-in-america/ Honolulu Elevated Train Update. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.myhawaiifoodfun. com/oahu /honolulu-elevated-train-update/ Honolulu Rail for growth. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://honolulurailforgrowth.com/imagine/ environment.php Honolulu Rail Transit. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.honolulutransit.org/rail-facts.aspx