Fixed rail in Honolulu may become a harsh reality in about 10 to 15 years. The rail proposal was kicked into high gear last year after Governor Linda Lingle let a bill to increase the general excise tax to pay for rail pass without her signature. This was done after she had signed the Americans for Tax Reform "Tax Pledge" during her 2002 campaign to promise us, her supporters, the voters and the state not to increase taxes.

Letting that bill become law was a huge disappointment to me and many others who oppose more tax increases and fixed rail.

Upon that action, the City administration under Mayor Mufi Hanneman along with 7 members of the City Council implemented the city's authorization to collect that tax for the funding of rail or whatever mass transit proposal they finally agree on.

Today the harsh reality of that tax kicking in on January 1, 2007 came closer as the mechanics of actually collecting the tax surcharge was tentatively agreed upon by the city and state. In the end, the state will become the reluctant player in this scheme to actually collect the tax from every business and person that does some kind of financial transaction within the City and County of Honolulu. This also includes those individuals, businesses and organizations on the neighbor islands who also make transactions with firms located on Oahu.

I have long been an opponent to any tax increase and an opponent of rail transit. Rail is 19th century technology that is not needed for the island of Oahu. This is the United States of America and frankly, most of us are married to our cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. Most motorists will never give up their vehicles to suffer through the unpleasantness and inconvenience of using public transportation such as a train or bus.

Studies and estimates through several decades have indicated that about 5% of the public will actually use mass transit and that promises of a train reducing traffic congestion is nothing but a lie. The city and state can do better by not sucking more money out of our pockets and halt all proposals to have an expensive and ugly rail line built in Honolulu.

For more reading:

• Mayor Says Compromise Reached with State on Collecting General Excise Tax Hike for Rail
• Transit Tax Impasse Ends
• State, City Make Transit Deal
• The Tragicomedy GE Tax Collection Squabble
• Governor Lingle Rescinds Decision to Veto Tax Increase
• HonoluluTraffic.com