HART rail project to receive additional $64 million in federal funding

Dec. 22, 2022

Sen. Brian Schatz said the funding for the rail project would cover inflationary cost increases.

HART will receive an additional $63.8 million in federal funding for its rail project to cover inflationary costs.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) will benefit from an additional $63.8 million in federal funding secured by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI).

According to Sen. Schatz’s office, the funds will be used to cover inflationary costs increases for the project.

“The federal government has already committed millions of dollars into the rail project, so finding new money was no easy task. We fought hard to make sure Hawai‘i gets its fair share of federal dollars, and this new money will give HART more resources to cover inflationary costs and finally get this project up and running for the people of Honolulu,” said Sen. Schatz, who serves as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.

HART is expected to receive the funds early in 2023, and the money will be in addition to the funding the project will receive as part of an amended Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant through the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program.

HART has revised its original project scope and developed a recovery plan to maintain eligibility for the CIG grant. The recovery plan is needed to document the authority’s plan to complete the rail project within the amount of forecasted available funding. The recovery plan includes amending the FFGA to reflect a rail project that is 1.25 miles shorter than the original scope of work.

The project will terminate at Civic Center Station rather than Ala Moana Transit Center and temporarily defer the construction of the Pearl Highlands Parking Garage. The rail agency intends a future phase of the project using non-FTA CIG program funds to build the remainder of the original rail line to Ala Moana Transit Center.

Regarding news of the additional funds to cover inflationary costs, HART leadership expressed gratitude and noted the money would help meet the requirements of its recovery plan.

“HART is so thankful for the support of Sen. Schatz and the Hawaii Congressional Delegation for their work to secure these additional federal dollars, which was no easy task,” said HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina. “These funds will be used to further enable HART to meet its obligations under the recovery plan and achieve our construction milestones.”

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.