I choo-choo-choose you
“We’re lost but we’re making good time.” An old pilot’s joke that perfectly describes today’s transit proposal. It has the wrong compass heading and it will make a forced landing. Hidden agendas may have unconsciously driven its conception, possibly with preconceived ideas. The result is that it forgets the main goal–to solve the massive and growing car gridlock. It cuts residential neighborhoods in half. No wonder the AIA doesn’t like it. It has the wrong route. It should be built over the existing H-1 corridor. The best world-class structural engineers in Hawaii say it’s feasible. Built over H-1 it will easily accommodate a 20 foot high elevated structure. Nobody’s views are hurt and no neighborhoods are cut in half. No eminent domain issues–we own the 120 foot wide right-of-way already. It is simply the best route.
First proposed by us to the city administration in 2008, complete with a large-scale architectural model, faint hearts have rejected this out of hand as not feasible. But trust the professionals, it is. Span the highway with pre-cast, pre-stressed structure. Work from the top while traffic still moves as usual on the ground. As soon as one mile is completed it can immediately be used by traffic with ramps up and down every mile.
Rapid-transit rail can ride on the elevated lanes as soon as the first ten miles are complete. Built 10 lanes wide, there will be room for both cars and trains on top with no conflicts. Photovoltaic panels on each side of the structure will face the wonderful Hawaiian sun to donate power to move electric trains free to all riders, with valuable energy to spare and pay us.
It’s not too late to alter our flight plan. Happy landings!
Art Hansen
AIA, Architect
