Need to invest in nation's infrastructure: Our nation's aging and outmoded infrastructure is crumbling. Congestion on our highways and streets has a significant economic cost, as well as a personal cost to those who waste hours of their lives stuck in traffic. High energy costs and the need to stay internationally competitive make it all the more essential that we find better ways to move people and goods in our country. Mass transit, whether by bus or rail, is part of the answer to this problem.
During these difficult economic times, investment in infrastructure is one of the best moves we can make to stimulate the economy. We will put people to work while investing in long-lasting improvements to our nation's transportation infrastructure.
Honolulu Rail Transit: I support mass transit on Oahu, including the planned rail transit system. Traffic along the proposed rail corridor is already terrible and higher gas prices are inspiring more people to use mass transit than ever before. While additional highways may be needed, there are physical limits to how many more roads we can build.