Crap! WTF we are not ready for another storm, not to mention hurricane!

Where's that rail $$$?

http://www.kitv.com/story/32530343/darby-triggers-sewage-spills-across-oahu

What has rail got to do with a storm ?

What has rail got to do with a storm ?

Opportunity cost.  By spending all that money on rail, we don't have it to fix our ailing infrastructure of water mains and sewage drains.

Opportunity cost.  By spending all that money on rail, we don't have it to fix our ailing infrastructure of water mains and sewage drains.

Fix drains?  Cleaning them would be a good start. 

I don't know what caused that mess at H1/School St or at Dillingham/Middle/Nimitz, but I suspect the drains weren't clear to begin with. 

Fix drains?  Cleaning them would be a good start. 

I don't know what caused that mess at H1/School St or at Dillingham/Middle/Nimitz, but I suspect the drains weren't clear to begin with.

Part of the problem is the drain pipes were never big enough to handle the heavy rains.  Now, I bet many sections are constricted not only from debris, but also tree roots, broken concrete sections, and shifting of the Earth. 

We seem to be in constant repair mode, but the system needs an upgrade.

On top of that, there are many other priorities, like school A/C, that are lagging as well.  Here's a 2013 report ...

http://www.civilbeat.org/2013/03/hawaii-infrastructure-ailing-billions-in-repairs/

Hawaii Infrastructure Ailing, Billions In Repairs Needed

Hawaii’s roads, bridges, schools, parks, drinking water and wastewater facilities are in serious disrepair — as are the nation’s — according to a new report from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The report gives the nation’s overall infrastructure a grade of D+, an improvement from its last grade of D, and cites a national spending shortfall of $1.6 trillion by 2020.

Hawaii is in need of about $6 billion in upgrades over the next twenty years.

Opportunity cost.  By spending all that money on rail, we don't have it to fix our ailing infrastructure of water mains and sewage drains.

You fail to note that the rail money comes from a special tax, If we dident have rail they wouldn't collect that money and that money would not be available to be spent else where.

You fail to note that the rail money comes from a special tax, If we dident have rail they wouldn't collect that money and that money would not be available to be spent else where.

And the law COULD HAVE BEEN increases in the GET were to go to infrastructure improvements instead of rail. 

More taxes for this project or that project, the law makers decide where it is needed.  Saying it's for rail now is true.  Back when the rail project started, we had a choice.  We could have fixed half the infrastructure problems with the rail cost overruns alone!

Part of the problem is the drain pipes were never big enough to handle the heavy rains.  Now, I bet many sections are constricted not only from debris, but also tree roots, broken concrete sections, and shifting of the Earth. 

We seem to be in constant repair mode, but the system needs an upgrade.

On top of that, there are many other priorities, like school A/C, that are lagging as well.  Here's a 2013 report ...

SNIP

Yeah, the current state of infrastructure is a big deal all around for sure.  Roads, water, drainage, an so on.  I was just commenting on how they are lacking in routine maintenance and that often leads to much bigger problems.  Now I'm hearing that the H1/School Street issue was due to drainage failing on Liliha St and all that water dumped onto the freeway.  Then again, Kalihi was hit some of the hardest of the island and some preliminary measurements are tracking greater rainfall than the 100 year return period storm.  So, "perfect storm" of a storm that exceeded design parameters and poor maintenance exacerbating things.  The only "good thing" was that it didn't happen during rush hour where more people would've been on the road. 

I used to do projects for DOT and know full well their maintenance methods, or lack thereof.  Like you said, everything seems to be in constant repair mode.  To be fair, that is a common theme nationwide with the aging of highways and bridges being a current problem and will only get worse. 

And the law COULD HAVE BEEN increases in the GET were to go to infrastructure improvements instead of rail. 

More taxes for this project or that project, the law makers decide where it is needed.  Saying it's for rail now is true.  Back when the rail project started, we had a choice.  We could have fixed half the infrastructure problems with the rail cost overruns alone!

The problem is not a lack of funds its a lack of proper management, Instead of the state doing stuff for themselves they contract all the work out, These company's add profit to the cost of parts and labor, They then underbid knowing that the state/city will have no choice to pay.

The tax for rail was always for a mass transit/traffic reduction project, The outer islands could of added a tax as well but choose not to. When they started rail they had a choice to do rail or do something else (to reduce trafic) and Rail won. That money could never of been used for anything else except a transit project.

You wont believe how many people on the outer island believe that they are paying for Rail,

The problem is not a lack of funds its a lack of proper management, Instead of the state doing stuff for themselves they contract all the work out, These company's add profit to the cost of parts and labor, They then underbid knowing that the state/city will have no choice to pay.

The tax for rail was always for a mass transit/traffic reduction project, The outer islands could of added a tax as well but choose not to. When they started rail they had a choice to do rail or do something else (to reduce trafic) and Rail won. That money could never of been used for anything else except a transit project.

You wont believe how many people on the outer island believe that they are paying for Rail,

I don't think you got what I said.  INSTEAD OF A TRANSPORTATION TAX the leg could have offered a bill to improve infrastructure using the same level of tax increase.  They could have done that INSTEAD OF a rail/transportation project tax.

To fix roads they could increase registration fee's
To fix drains they could increase sewage fee's
To fix streams they could increase property tax,

But they wont because increasing those tax's are unfavorable to voters and even if they did the state/city would missues the money and more private companys would make profit and the work would still not get done.

I don't think you got what I said.  INSTEAD OF A TRANSPORTATION TAX the leg could have offered a bill to improve infrastructure using the same level of tax increase.  They could have done that INSTEAD OF a rail/transportation project tax.

So instead of a tax for fixing what is a major problem (traffic) we should have a tax fix a different one (infrastructure) that we have all been paying for for years The problem is not a l;ack of funds its a lack of proper management?

So instead of a tax for fixing what is a major problem (traffic) we should have a tax fix a different one (infrastructure) that we have all been paying for for years The problem is not a l;ack of funds its a lack of proper management?

If we had "proper management", none of the candidates for city and county offices would have anything to promise voters!

As with most public works, the money you pay in is for operations and routine maintenance.  When an upgrade or overhaul is needed, the monthly billing isn't going to cover it unless they tack on another "fee" to your bill on top of everything else.

Worse part about everything is the storm wasn't that bad, it could've been a lot worse.  And there are a lot more storms headed our way this year.

Worse part about everything is the storm wasn't that bad, it could've been a lot worse.  And there are a lot more storms headed our way this year.

average rainfall for Honolulu is 17 inchs, we got 10 in one storm. Yes it could be a lot worse but thats prety dam bad, over 1/2 the years rainfall in 12 hours

Yep.  The intensity of this storm was surprising and what caused many of the problems.  Even if the drainage systems were operating to full/new capability (which I'm pretty sure they weren't), I would bet that that storm exceeded the design storm.  We're lucky that there wasn't high winds during that storm and following.  That's where a lot of trees go down. 

Yep.  The intensity of this storm was surprising and what caused many of the problems.  Even if the drainage systems were operating to full/new capability (which I'm pretty sure they weren't), I would bet that that storm exceeded the design storm.  We're lucky that there wasn't high winds during that storm and following.  That's where a lot of trees go down.

I was really surprised by the lack of wind especially with how close it passed us.

I was really surprised by the lack of wind especially with how close it passed us.

Me too.  That and how hot and humid it was even as it was pouring!  Usually, rainy weather like that brings some cooler feeling weather, but it was still sweltering hot!  Worse than some of the rainy days that I've spent in places like Guam and the Philippines.  Bleh! 

Good thing the rail isn't going underground.  </sarcasm>

Oh wait!?!

Dual use technology man!

Maybe can shuttle the crap from A to B quicker.

My sarcastic comment regarding rail is not only for the dollars.

There is a also focus.

If they focused on fixing infrastructure, there would be options on the table, and better solutions. Money can come from various channels, but the important thing is what problem are you focused on?

As it is, rail has distracted all this energy and brainpower and time.

You can figure out how to fix the stove, or the fridge. As it is, right now neither the stove not the fridge is fixed, and you can't buy food cuz it spoils, and even if it doesn't spoil you can't cook it.

We got this sewage thing last year. In fact Dole flooded last year too. The sewage thing is no joke. It's not just messy. It's a downright biohazard.

We ain't even out of the woods yet this season.

Such hate for rail.  I'm one of the few here who sorta likes it I guess.  Then again ive seen first hand (japan) how good rail can be.  I think we are one of the very few states with no rail services.  Hence so much fucking traffic.  If rail shaves 5 minutes off my commute its worth.