MARINE MASS TRANSIT FOR HAWAII--A CASE STUDY

The marine alternatives to land-based mass transit, as either a complementary or a major aspect of any given system, appear not to have been adequately explored. The use of waterways for urban mass transit has not escaped international recognition. This is particularly true in the Soviet Union where nearly 300 hydrofoil boats are in service for mass transit along rivers and canals. Honolulu was selected for analysis because most of its major population centers and its central business district are within the 10-foot elevation contour, and the city is heavily interlaced with drainage canals which are wide enough in most cases, and in many cases deep enough to accommodate a marine system. A system utilizing these canals, streams, and the open ocean has been proposed. The preliminary layout of the Hawii Environmental Area Mass Transit (HEART) System utilizes the ocean as the expressway with boats operating on the existing canals and streams for the local loops. Engineering investigations have determined that it is technically feasible to implement the HEART System. The study investigated the feasibility of improving existing canals and streams to serve as inland navigation channels, with appropriate terminal stops connecting major population centers. The effects on the drainage waters in the canals, sediment transport and deposition, and water pollution, among other things, have been thoroughly investigated. An economic study based on these data has been performed and the estimated cost of water-based mass transit for Honolulu will cost approximately $200,000,000 and take 2 to 3 years to become operational.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the 9th Annual Conference of the Marine Technology Society, Sept. 10-12, 1973.
• Corporate Authors:

  Marine Technology Society

  5565 Sterrett Place, Suite 108
  Columbia, MD  United States  21044
• Authors:
  • Lucas, M A
• Conference:
  • Presented at the 9th Annual Conference of the Marine Technology Society, Sept. 10-12, 1973.
• Publication Date: 1973-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 377-385

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Hydrofoil boats; Marine transit; Operations; Surface effect ships; Vessel operations
• Old TRIS Terms: Hydrofoil craft
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Marine Transportation; Public Transportation; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052028
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Marine Technology Society
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM