Looking for something cool and green to do this Summer?  If you will be a high school junior or senior in Fall 2011, join your peers across America as they come together June 26-30, 2011 in Washington, DC to explore how partnering with public transportation can help promote better communities and a healthy environment.

With this all-expenses paid opportunity, you will:

• Experience 5 days in our Nation’s Capital
• Meet lawmakers and congressional leaders
• Participate in hands-on local transit tours
• Discover the wide range of exciting career paths within the transit industry
• Learn how public transportation is helping shape a brighter future

Please submit completed applications via email to: cpyatt@apta.com

To learn more and apply, visit http://www.apta.com/youthsummit

Application Deadline: must be received by Friday, April 22, 2011

To download the application, please click here.

(Tues., Feb. 22, 2011) – Honolulu’s rail transit project will create thousands of jobs and provide a badly needed transportation alternative that will benefit Oahu for decades and generations to come, Mayor Peter Carlisle said at the project’s ceremonial groundbreaking and blessing today.

“The Honolulu rail transit project will transform how we travel, work, play, and live,” Carlisle said. “The project is the effort of many people throughout the years. Rail will provide thousands of jobs for our local work force, relieve traffic congestion, improve mobility, and pave the way for an exciting future for Oahu residents. It is our gift to a better future.”

More than 400 people attended the ceremony, held along Kualakai Parkway (North-South Road) in East Kapolei, near the site of the first of 21 stations planned for the 20-mile rail route. Speakers included Carlisle, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia, and longtime West Oahu resident Maeda Timson.

The elevated rail system will stretch from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center and is expected to cost $5.5 billion. The project will include stations in communities such as Waipahu, Pearl City, Aiea, Kalihi, Chinatown, Downtown Honolulu, and Kakaako. There will also be stations at activity centers such as UH-West Oahu, Leeward Community College, Pearl Highlands, Pearlridge, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu International Airport, and Honolulu Community College.

The City has already awarded a construction contract for the first phase of the elevated rail guideway from East Kapolei to Pearl City. A second contract for the train storage and maintenance facility in Waipahu is expected to be executed shortly. The City is scheduled to award two more major contracts this year for the second phase of the rail route from Pearl City to Aloha Stadium and for the “core systems,” which consists of the train vehicles and the control center for the rail system.

Media Contact:  Louise Kim McCoy, Mayor’s Office, 768-7798
Original story »

[View slideshow]

Congratulations to the following winners in the 2010 Youth for Rail Poster Contest!

	1st Place John Paul Nartatez, Farrington High School “Should Have Caught the Rail”
	2nd Place Erica S. Buxton, Farrington High School “Rail Relieves Road Rush Hours”
	3rd Place (tie) Catherine Johnny, Campbell High School “Benefits of the Rail”
	3rd Place (tie) Kody Castillo, Radford High School “The Future of Oahu”

We received many excellent entries from schools throughout Oahu. All of the posters displayed an impressive amount of innovation and vision, and were judged based on their overall appeal, message, creativity, and the accuracy of the technology depicted.

As the first place winner in this year’s poster contest, John will receive an Apple iPod Touch, and his poster will be published in print and on MovingUsForward.org, the official youth website for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. The other top finishers will have their artwork posted on the website and used in future online and print campaigns.

A sampling of the other submissions can be found in the art gallery:

[View slideshow]

MAYOR CARLISLE ANNOUNCES GOVERNOR’S ACCEPTANCE OF FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

FOR HONOLULU RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle today announced the acceptance of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, clearing the way for the project to move forward.

With the governor’s acceptance of the project’s Final EIS on the state level, the City anticipates that the Federal Transit Administration will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) that would allow the City to break ground on the rail transit system.

“Moving forward with rail transit creates much-needed jobs for our communities, provides long-term traffic relief and offers a dependable transportation alternative that starts us on the right path toward our preferred future,” said Carlisle.

The EIS, which had been submitted to the State Office of Environmental Quality Control, identifies environmental, community and economic benefits and impacts of the rail system as well as mitigation procedures for addressing these issues.

“The rail project EIS has been done prudently and is in compliance with state environmental law,” Carlisle added.

The Honolulu Rail Transit Project is a 20-mile elevated rail system connecting East Kapolei with Ala Moana Center. There are 21 stations in communities including Waipahu, Pearl City, Aiea, Kalihi, Chinatown, Downtown Honolulu and Kakaako. There will also be stations at activity centers such as UH-West Oahu, Leeward Community College, Pearl Highlands, Pearlridge, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu International Airport and Honolulu Community College.

The City has already awarded two construction contracts for the project: one for the first phase of the elevated rail guideway from East Kapolei to Pearl City; and the other for the train storage and maintenance facility in Waipahu. The city is scheduled to award two more contracts next year for the second phase of the rail route from Pearl City to Aloha Stadium and for the “core systems,” which consists of the train vehicles and the control center for the rail system.

“Many people contributed to this important journey,” Carlisle said. “I want to thank Gov. Abercrombie for accepting the project’s EIS, the former mayor, the City Council, Hawaii’s Congressional delegation, the state Legislature, labor and business organizations, the Federal Transit Administration and other federal partners who have helped us and pledged funding.”

A group of more than 100 high school and college students voiced their support for the Honolulu Rail Transit project by submitting a letter to the editors of the Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin.  This letter was subsequently published.

            HUNDREDS ATTEND MAYOR’S “SMART” YOUTH SUMMIT 2010

Rail transit and improving Oahu was the topic of the day at the Leeward Community College auditorium.  Nearly 300 students  from 30 elementary schools, high schools and colleges gathered to learn about the Honolulu Rail Transit Project at the Mayor’s SMART Youth Summit. SMART stands for “Save Money And Ride Transit.” 

Watch the virtual studio highlight video from the Youth Summit by clicking here.
View photos of Youth Summit student participants by clicking here.

The free summit brought together students on a Furlough Friday. The day’s educational activities featured speakers on environment and energy, the Honowai Elementary robotics team, displays from the rail youth poster contest, a “Transit 101” video, videos produced by the Waianae Seariders student video team, a virtual train ride, breakout groups and moderated discussions.

Local entertainer Augie T emceed the event and Mayor Mufi Hannemann delivered the keynote address.

“I heard loud and clear that young people are fired up about rail and want it to happen,” said Hannemann. “They are as tired of traffic congestion as adults are and they recognize rail will help ease rush hour traffic in the future. I also saw a strong sense of ownership about rail and creating a more sustainable Oahu. Young people want green, energy-efficient transportation options like rail for their future.”

Hannemann remarked he is committed to creating a new curriculum with the UH Community Colleges to train local residents for jobs operating and maintaining the elevated rail line and train fleet.

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