MYTH: “The rail is unsafe and will cost taxpayers more money because of defects in the guideway construction and the rail cars.”

FACT:  All of the construction work and rail car production go through rigorous quality and safety inspections to ensure all of the work meets HART’s standards.  HART will not accept from its contractors any work until it is satisfied that the finished products are of the highest quality and meet or exceed all safety requirements.

MYTH: HART can switch to maglev technology or use buses on top the guideway.

FACT: No, HART is not allowed to switch to maglev or other technologies. The Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) specifically provides $1.55 billion to build HART's 20-mile, 21-station project with a fleet of 80 vehicles using steel-on-steel technology. Changing the technology - including changing to Maglev or more buses- would not be permitted.  In addition, the rail guideway is specifically designed for a steel-rail system and cannot accommodate buses or other technologies. 

MYTH: HART doesn't keep track of all of the subconsultants working on the project.

FACT: HART's contracts are with the prime contractors, not the subcontractors.  Subcontractors are the firms hired by the prime contractors to assist them with performing the work. HART follows all state and federal procurement laws and holds the prime contractor accountable for completing the work according to the terms of the contract.  HART does track some subcontractors, as required by state or federal law, such as contractors participating in the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program and subcontractors who require special licenses to work on the project.

MYTH: An average family of five will pay more than $1,000 a year extra in GET for the rail.

FACT: That is incorrect. The rail tax surcharge is already incorporated in the existing General Excise and Use Tax (GET) and amounts to ½ a penny tax on each dollar spent.  If a household spends $2 on groceries, it has paid one penny ($0.01) to the rail fund.

MYTH: HART's construction work in Ewa is destroying the fresh water aquifer.

FACT: The Ewa Caprock aquifer is non-potable and not used for drinking water. All of the Board of Water Supply drinking water resources near Kualakai Parkway are mauka of the H-1 Freeway, away from areas of rail construction. The Karst system may be within the coral deposits in the Ewa Caprock but does not contribute and flow upland to the mauka BWS wells.