The traffic congestion in Hawaii is getting worse each year. With an average commute time of 26 minutes per day, we are ranked 11th in the nation on longest commute time list. These problems are only going to get worse if we don’t act now. That’s why we need a solution such as the Straddling Bus.
The Straddling Bus is a cross between a train and a bus. It rides along tracks on the sides of the road, while being suspended over traffic. Due to its ability to arch over traffic, it is not affected by it. One problem that this creates though, is that it requires vehicles over 13 feet high to merge into the lanes that the Bus is not above. The Straddling Bus is able to hold a maximum of 1,200 passengers at once, taking a lot of drivers off of the roads. This gigantic bus might be good road wise, but scenery wise, it will take away from the natural beauty of this paradise. Causing Hawaii to seem more “city like.”
Many other traffic solutions have been proposed, one of the main ones being the rail transit system. Unlike the 4.34 billion dollar cost of the transit system, the Straddling Bus only costs a mere 74.5 million for one unit and 25 miles of track. Beside the major cost difference, the Straddling Bus is able to travel on smaller roads unlike the transit that has to stay near main highway areas. Last, the transit can only drop off passengers at a limited amount of stations due to the high station costs. Whereas the Straddling Bus is able to stop at its many stops, as a result of low bus stop costs.
With todays shift to clean energy, the Straddling Bus is completely electric. Getting power either from solar panels, or overhead charging lines at bus stops. This “zero emission” alternative to gas guzzling vehicles will save approximately 860 tons of gas each year. With this gas, 2,620 less tons of carbon emissions are ending up in our atmosphere. Hopefully slowing global warming drastically.
With 30% traffic reduction, taking 1,200 drivers off of the roads in one bus. Relatively cheap building prices, as compared to the 4 billion of the rail transit system. Last is its clean electric energy use that doesn’t produce any toxic emissions. The Straddling Bus is the right choice, to relieve traffic problems.
First of all, I like your word choice in your draft. For example: one of your words was commute and I had to look on google to find out what that meant haha! Anyways, I also like how you gave a lot of positive details about the straddling bus and how it can affect our island. You also organized your essay well and your writing wasn't all over the place. So, keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI like how you started off with the conflict telling us why we need the straddaling bus. This way you could introduce your straddalig bus. I thought it was brilliant that you thought of ways that the straddaling bus is a good choice.
ReplyDeleteI really like your thesis statement (: but yeah! This was a very good draft. The thing that I like the most about it, is that you said why the straddling bus is a good idea to eliminate traffic & why it might be bad way. I also liked your word choice! OH! I also like how you added statistics & everything, because that really help the reader understand how well the straddling bus will help Hawaii's traffic problem. But chaa' honestly there is nothing that really needs improving.
ReplyDeleteHi Dustin,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your teammates that you did a pretty good job on your essay. What you need now is the in text citations to show where you got your support for the essay.
The other recommendation I have is that you put the disadvantages of the bus first and the advantages last. That will allow your essay to end with your strongest arguments last.
Check grammar...there is are fragments in a couple of places.
mrs s