Honolulu is planning a $3.8 billion mass transit system. The Honolulu Star Bulletin reports that the city council has decided to let a panel of experts decide which technologies to pursue:
The City Council passed a measure yesterday that authorizes a panel of experts to select the technology for the city's planned multibillion-dollar mass transit system, despite concerns by several councilmembers that this crucial decision would be made behind closed doors.
..."We should never cede our decision to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to un-elected, unaccountable, largely mainland experts," said Councilman Charles Djou. "A closed-door secret meeting on how to spend billions of dollars is something that is utterly unacceptable and something the Council should never condone."
...The technology panel will be deciding whether the planned $3.8 billion fixed guideway system going from Kapolei to Ala Moana should be steel on steel, on rubber tires or on a magnetic levitation system.
I do understand the concern that an unelected expert panel cannot be held accountable to voters if they make a poor decision. However, if I were a city councilman I would rather delegate this decision to experts than try to make it myself. What does the average city councilman know about magnetic levitation? I only wish other local governments were so wise.
Links: Star Bulletin, Full Article | Star Bulletin Editorial
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