Each street-level train will have two cars and function in traffic similar to a bus.  No special crossings are needed because it will be controlled by existing traffic lights and will not block intersections. Yes, this would travel similar to speed of existing traffic although would be in an exclusive lane for the most part.  Because it could run along such central streets as King and Beretania, it would provide better service than elevated and actually get passengers closer to their destinations faster, despite marginally slower travel time, compared to the elevated train, which bypasses downtown at Aloha Tower, then uselessly dead-ends at the tourist shopping mall.  Street-level could be extended to University Ave and eventually into Waikiki with one track along Kalakaua and return track on Kuhio, providing no-transfer service for UH, Leeward hotel workers, and tourists from the airport. 
Critics are jumping to false conclusions before they even know proposed routes and technologies.