Study: Ferry not feasible [View all]
Despite a lot of public interest, Hawaii shouldn’t go full speed ahead into a new ferry service, a feasibility study concludes.
Perhaps to no surprise, the report — mandated by the Legislature and published on the state Department of Transportation’s website Monday — says an interisland or intraisland ferry system won’t work without a state subsidy.
But it also cites costs of upgrading piers and ridership projections as reasons for concluding that a state-operated system isn’t “feasible.” The ridership projections didn’t include tourists and conclusions appear to have been based on the most conservative models.
“From a technical standpoint, the lack of available pier space and the significant costs required for constructing new pier facilities to accommodate a ferry system are the primary barrier to feasibility,” says the report produced by consultant SMS Hawaii and the DOT. “From a commercial perspective, the expectations of Hawaii’s residents and the reality of a ferry system are incompatible.”
Read more: http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/study-ferry-not-feasible
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