Troubled Hawaii light rail project gets more troubling news
Written by RT&S Staff
The troubled Honolulu light-rail line could end at Middle Street.
The first official light rail project for the state of Hawaii has been tarred in controversy for years, but the latest news has the COVID-19 pandemic dumping on the job.
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART) officials were planning on having public-private partnership (P3) final proposals on the last segment in by April 22, but due to the coronavirus that deadline has been extended to July. The delay is due, at least in part, from competing teams having a difficult time with communicating with vendors during this time of crisis.
The P3 deal will allow the bid winner to design, build, finance, operate and maintain 4.1 miles of elevated concrete railway, eight stations, a transit center and a 1,600-space parking lot.
The cost of the project has spiked over the years, and is now expected to be as high as $8.14 billion. The rising cost led HART officials to set up a P3 for the final leg of the project. The elevated light rail spans a total of 20 miles.
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