Skip navigation.
Home
   Candidate & issue information

Whistleblower Tells Hawaii to 'Cut the Cord' on Rail

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Feb. 13, 2015

San Francisco Whistle-Blower Raises Questions About Viability of Honolulu Rail Plan

Cost Analyst Who Revealed Massive Overruns In San Francisco Subway Tells Hawaii to "Cut the Cord" on Rail

HONOLULU, HAWAII—LaVonda Atkinson, the cost engineer on San Francisco's Central Subway extension project, warned Hawaii's citizens and taxpayers about the likelihood that the Honolulu Rail project would end up being significantly late and over-budget. Speaking of the Honolulu Rail, Atkinson said, "Honestly, I would be absolutely amazed if this project got completed in under 30 years for under 20 billion dollars." [HPI note: With Oahu's population at a little under 1 million, that's over $20,000 for every man, woman and baby on the island. Red text added by HPI for emphasis.]

Atkinson recently appeared on E Hana Kakou, a weekly broadcast on the ThinkTech Network hosted by Grassroot Institute of Hawaii President/CEO Keli'i Akina, Ph.D. During their conversation LaVonda detailed her experiences with San Francisco's fixed rail project, a two-mile, $2 billion dollar subway extension that is now expected to go as much as $1 billion over budget. While working as the cost engineer on the San Francisco project, Atkinson discovered a series of budget and reporting irregularities meant to deceive the public and cover up massive overruns and questionable payments.

After management threatened to fire her for simply trying to do her job with integrity, Atkinson decided to speak out. Her revelations about management's questionable practices and manipulation of the reporting mechanism scandalized the city. Now visiting Hawaii for the first time, Atkinson, who has been keeping up with the debate over the Honolulu Rail, warned Hawaii's taxpayers that the state could be looking at similar problems in its own rail project.

"My professional opinion is that it is absolutely not going to be at that cost,” said Atkinson. “Especially when the major contracts haven’t been awarded for the rails and the transit stations." She advised the people of Hawaii to, "Cut the cord," on rail, adding that the money already spent on the project shouldn't be the justification for continuing, as, "You’re going to waste so much more to keep going just because you started."

Atkinson also warned Hawaii's citizens that the accounting system used for big projects like rail may be complex, but that it is also a necessary part of the federal reporting requirements. Still, it behooves us to be watchful as the same accounting system is also, "easily manipulated by dishonest people and very difficult to uncover without people on the inside or without a program management oversight committee.”

"We are very grateful to LaVonda Atkinson," concluded Dr. Akina. "Not only for sharing her insight on rail and budget issues, but also for demonstrating what it means to do one's job with integrity. By remembering that she was ultimately responsible to the citizens of San Francisco, Ms. Atkinson shows that accountable government starts with good people who perform with honesty and honor."

To view the interview in full, go to: http://youtu.be/OsC-EPJLNF8

To read the Grassroot Institute article, please visit: http://new.grassrootinstitute.org/2015/02/the-rail-world-san-francisco/

Published on YouTube Feb 10, 2015


About Grassroot President Keli’i Akina:
Keli’i Akina, Ph.D., is a recognized scholar, educator, public policy spokesperson, and community leader in Hawaii. Currently, he is President/CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a public policy think tank dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, free markets and limited, accountable government. An expert in East-West Philosophy and ethics, Dr. Akina has taught at universities in China and the United States and continues as an adjunct instructor at Hawaii Pacific University. Dr. Akina was a candidate for Trustee at Large of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in the 2014 General Election run-off.