FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             September 15, 2006

Release No. M-97-06

CITY HOLDS TRANSIT SYMPOSIUM  ON OCT. 5

Sessions, exhibits showcase latest high-capacity transportation technology

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann is pleased to present the City and County of Honolulu Transit Symposium 2006 on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center. The symposium is being held concurrently with the Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials and Pacific Geospatial Conference 2006 — “PacGeo 2006” — from Oct. 3 to 5 also at the convention center.

            “The Transit Symposium will provide a venue for Oahu residents to obtain the latest information on tangible transportation solutions being put to use in other cities on the Mainland and elsewhere,” Mayor Hannemann said. “Honolulu must look to other cities for insight into the most feasible and successful solutions before embarking on its own system. We have assembled an impressive lineup of experts who will share valuable information about what they have already learned and experienced in their own cities. I invite anyone interested in the future of transportation in Honolulu to attend the Transit Symposium.”         

            The symposium will include concurrent sessions and a luncheon featuring visiting experts ranging from former elected officials from other cities to heads of Mainland transit authorities and programs who have experience with implementing new transit systems.

            Speakers will include John M. Inglish, general manager and CEO of the Utah Transit Authority, whose accomplishments include securing $250 million of federal funds to build the $312.5 million Salt Lake-Sandy TRAX light rail line and completing the 15-mile line one year ahead of schedule and under budget. Additional guest speakers will include Skip Rimsza, former mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, and Gary Thomas, president and executive director, Dallas Area Rapid Transit.   

            In addition, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., exhibitors from the U.S. Mainland and the Pacific region will showcase the latest transportation solutions and technologies. These will include Bombardier, Hitachi, Itochu Corporation, Mitsubishi, Siemens Corporation, and Washington Group International.

            The exhibit area will be free and open to the public, but registration is required for speaker sessions and luncheon. Cost per person is $75 for the entire conference, or $45 for the luncheon only. The registration deadline is Sept. 29.

            For more information, call the symposium hotline at (808) 535-6243.

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Media Contacts:

            Bill Brennan, 527-6928

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767                                                                                       

            Keith DeMello, 531-0244