The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) recovery plan to deliver the 20.1-mile rail project.
In a letter to HART Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Robbins, FTA said the recovery plan “made substantial progress from its initial recovery plan submitted in April 2017, when there were significant concerns about HART’s ability to complete the project.”
The FTA’s letter also explained that the project will not receive any of the $744 million committed to it until HART can identify and finance the City Center procurement, anticipated to be awarded in January 2020, “as the procurement is the largest risk area related to project cost and schedule.”
The recovery plan calls for the project to be constructed from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center with 21 stations for under $8.299 billion. HART says that by 2030, 70 percent of Oahu’s population and 80 percent of the island’s jobs will be located along the rail corridor.
“This is not the end of the process, but this is an important milestone that recognizes the work that the state and the city have done in getting this project to be more accountable and keep costs under control. I will continue to work with our federal partners to make sure that we reach the finish line. We have a long way to go but this is good news,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI).
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the approval of the recovery plan was good news that put the project on the right path.
