Home > Construction

Construction Overview

The Honolulu Rail Transit Project, excluding park-and-ride facilities, is currently separated into three segments.

Operating Segments

Segment 1

West Side Stations and Guideway (WSSG) | East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium

The first nine stations, 10 miles of the guideway, are complete: Kaualakaʻi (East Kapolei) Station, Keoneʻae (UH-West Oahu) Station, Honouliuli (Hoʻopili) Station, Hōʻaeʻae (West Loch) Station, Pouhala (Waipahu Transit Center) Station, Hālaulani (Leeward Community College) Station, Waiawa (Pearl Highlands) Station, Kalauao (Pearlridge) Station and Hālawa (Aloha Stadium) Station.
On June 9, 2023 HART transferred 10.75 miles of guideway, 9 stations, the 43-acre Rail Operations Center, and 12 four-car trains to City’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS). The Honolulu rail system, officially named the Skyline, opened on June 30, 2023.

For information on rail fares, schedules, safety, and operational questions, visit the Department of Transportation Services website. Skyline Hotline: 808-848-5555

Segment 2

Airport Guideway and Stations (AGS) | Aloha Stadium to Middle Street Transit Center

5.2 miles of the rail guideway construction and trackwork is complete.
Construction of the four stations in this segment is expected to be sustainably complete in the first quarter 2025.
The stations include Makalapa (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam) Station, Lelepaua (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport) Station, Āhua (Lagoon Drive) Station, and Kahauiki (Middle Street) Station.
Installation activities for the core systems—including power cables, communications systems, and signaling equipment have begun.
Third rail energization started in June 2024, with vehicle train testing now underway.
Important Safety Reminder: Although, the rail stations in this segment may appear complete, they are still active work zones. The “third rail,” which powers the trains, is now energized and carries 750 volts of electricity, posing a fatal risk if you come into contact with it.
Anticipated transfer of assets to DTS is planned for late 2025 for the opening of service.

Segment 3

City Center | Middle Street Transit Center to Civic Center

This segment involves completing utility relocations in Downtown Honolulu (CCUR III) and along Dillingham Boulevard (CCUR IV) to prepare for the City Center Guideway and Stations (CCGS) contract.
The utility work includes relocating storm drainage facilities, sewer facilities, water main, gas and fuel, electrical and communications infrastructure, along with roadway improvements. These relocations are necessary to facilitate the installation of the elevated guideway columns in the next phase.
Mauka Shift Plan — In 2021, HART implemented the “Mauka Shift” plan, which moves a portion of the rail alignment to the mauka (mountain) side of Dillingham Boulevard. This shift is expected to reduce the number of utilities that need to be relocated, minimize construction impacts, and shorten the project timeline.

Contracts and Timelines

Downtown Utilities Relocation:
This project is underway from Ka’aahi Street to Cooke Street, along Nimitz Highway and Halekauwila Street, ending at the intersection of Coral Street and Halekauwila Street. The contract was awarded to Frank V. Coluccio Construction Company, Inc. (FVCCC).

Work began in June 2022. Completion is expected in 2025.
Construction Notice Flyer

Dillingham Utilities Relocation:
Work is ongoing in the Kalihi-Palama area, beginning on Kamehameha Highway between Middle Street and Laumaka Street to the corner of Dillingham Boulevard and Kaaahi Street. The contract was awarded to Nan, Inc., and a Notice to Proceed was issued in October 2022.

Work began in December 2022. Completion is expected in early 2026.
Construction Notice Flyer

City Center Guideway and Stations (CCGS) Design-Build Contract:

Notice of Award was issued in August 2024, while contract execution is expected to occur in mid-September 2024. Project design will begin shortly thereafter. Construction is estimated to begin in the second-half of 2025.
Once the utility relocation work is complete, the remaining construction of the elevated guideway and six stations from east of the Middle Street-Kalihi Transit Center Station to the Civic Center Station work can begin.
- Mokauea (Kalihi) Station, Niuhelewai (Honolulu Community College-Kapālama) Station, Kūwili (Iwilei) Station, Hōlau (Chinatown) Station, Kuloloia (Downtown) Station, Kaʻākaukukui (Civic Center) Station

Join Business and Community Meetings to learn more about the utility relocation projects. Visit our webpage for the latest information.

HART 2022 Recovery Plan

HART’s 2022 Recovery Plan proposed an amendment to the original Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA), a contract between the City and County of Honolulu and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) executed in 2012. The initial FFGA provided $1.55 billion in federal funding and outlined the project scope, 20 miles and 21 stations from East Kapolei to Ala Moana. However, when the project encountered challenges, HART submitted a 2022 Recovery Plan to the FTA, which proposed to truncate the project scope from the original 20 miles and 21 stations to 18.9 miles and 19 stations from the East Kapolei Station to the Civic Center Station; the FTA accepted this plan in September 2022.

The 2022 Recovery Plan also proposed the deferral of the Pearl Highlands Parking Garage. The scope change required an amendment to the Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA), which was necessary to maintain the funding needed to complete the remainder of the project.

Throughout 2023, HART collaborated with the FTA on amending the FFGA document, requiring approvals from various entities such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Congress, Governor’s Office, HART Board, City Council Committee on Budget, and Full City Council. By February 2024, the FFGA was executed, enabling the release of $125 million of the remaining $744 million federal funds, marking a significant milestone — the first appropriation from the FFGA in almost ten years.

Traffic Updates and Alerts

Weekly Traffic Updates

Keep in touch with our weekly traffic updates and road closures along the rail alignment.

Segment 1 - Kapolei, Waipahu, Pearl City, Aiea, Pearl Harbor

Segment 2 - Pearl Harbor, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Airport area, Kalihi-Palama

Segment 3 - Kalihi-Palama, Iwilei, Chinatown, Downtown Honolulu, Kakaako

Construction Notices

HART Weekly eBlast

Our weekly newsletter will keep you up-to-date about the project, news, construction, and information on upcoming events.

Historic & Cultural Preservation

HART’s practices recognize the unique cultural qualities of Hawaii, both regionally as well as at the neighborhood level. Our proactive sustainability efforts will highlight and preserve our ‘aina for future generations.

HART and Sustainability

Transit-oriented development (TOD) promotes the use of transit, walking, cycling, and reduced dependence on the private automobile through high-density commercial and residential development near high quality transit nodes, such as rail stations.

Learn more About

Construction Update Video Gallery

Construction Updates

43 Videos