Panos for Progress: Thoughts and Selections

  I was quoted in WalletHub's Best and Worst States to Drive 2026. What tips do you have for a person looking to keep the costs of car ownership low? Those looking for a new or replacement car need to research their next purchase. Sources like Edmund’s and Consumer Reports are free of hype and provide reliable data on vehicle features, performance, long-term costs, and mpg. Buyers should visit a dealer well informed and always test a few comparable models before committing to a purchase. They should ignore the so called “dealer pressure”. If they already own an expensive vehicle to run, then they can consider a swap with a low running cost model at a dealer, Carvana, etc. Typically, hybrids are more economical and many used EVs are on the market at a fairly low price. Gasoline affinity programs can save several cents per gallon. Research local websites and find reliable independent car repair shops; obtain at least two quotes for an expensive maintenance and/or part replacement job...

  Nimitz lane closures intensify evacuation gridlock worries Victoria Budiono, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Sun, August 31, 2025 at 9:06 AM PDT The lane closures on Nimitz Highway through 2030 for Honolulu rail construction are raising concerns not only about daily traffic but also about how the city will move people in the next evacuation emergency in the aftermath of last month’s tsunami-scare gridlock. On Aug. 18, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and contractor Tutor Perini Corp. began 24 /7 closures on Nimitz between Awa and Bishop streets. One lane in each direction along the center median is shut for the City Center Guideway and Stations project, leaving three lanes open each way. The work will affect thousands of commuters, pedestrians and businesses for years. Retired University of Hawaii engineering professor Panos Prevedouros warned that the lane closures could be especially dangerous during an evacuation, pointing to the July 29 tsunami scare when some mo...

The Wall Street Journal reports that Columbus, OH, Memphis, TN., and Milwaukee. WI have some of the fastest commutes, about 22 minutes one way:  The Cities With the Fastest Car Commutes Ten years ago I had a similar plan for Honolulu! But its political leaders insisted on using 19th century technology and have been trying to plan-design-construct an elevated steel-wheel on steel-rail electric train since ... 2006.  After spending well over $10 billion only half of the 20 promised miles were opened in 2023 to abysmal ridership.  The forecast for the 20 mile line was for 105,000 daily boardings. The 10 mile line has a daily ridership below 5,000! The HART rail is located on Oahu in greater Honolulu area. If you thought that 105,000 trips a day is a big deal, you'd be wrong. About 4 million trips occur on Oahu every day. With the best conditions possible, HART rail will relieve traffic congestion by about 2%.  How about it... $16 billion of wasted public monies for a 2%...