Executive Director for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, Daniel Grabauskas, has stated that he would like to see a change in the rail system designs to allow for more seats in train cars and to add fare gates at rail stations. Currently, the proposal is to have each of the two-car trains to hold 318 passengers. However, these trains would only have 64 seats available for passengers, which has left many potential riders upset and frusterated. With regards to the gates, the plan is to have an ungated system where staff members would randomly check to see if passengers have paid their fares. Grabauskas’ suggestion of adding fare gates would help to insure that all patrons pay for their tickets, another issue that rail opponents have attacked. Grabauskas stated, “Those are the kinds of things that I think would make the system better. If I do my job right, I’m the No. 1 customer advocate in the organization.”
While Grabauskas has asked contractors for revised cost estimates to include these additional features, it is unclear where the money to pay for these items would come from. As of this point, the over $5 billion budget does not allocate for more seats in the trains or for fare gates at the stations.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-1-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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