FTA APPROVESWORK ON RAIL GUIDEWAY AND PRECAST YARD
(May 17, 2012)-The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) received the green light today from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to move forward with $21.8 million in work that includes a precasting yard that will create the concrete guideway for Oahu’s rail system.
The latest FTA approval is another positive sign of the project’s momentum and shows things are on the right track, said HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas. The FTA issued an earlier approval for $184.7 million to be spent on construction activities for theWest Oahu Farrington Highway and Kamehameha Highway portions of the guideway, the Maintenance and Storage Facility and three rail stations in theWaipahu area.Work is currently underway on the guideway columns and foundations in East Kapolei.
“This is excellent news for Honolulu. It reflects the further confidence the FTA has in this project,” Grabauskas said. “With the work on the columns underway, this approval will clear the way for us to have the contractor begin work on constructing the guideway and helps ensure we keep the project on time and on budget.”
The 20-mile rail transit system from East Kapolei to Ala Moana is expected to open in 2019. For a copy of the FTA’s latest approval and for updates on construction work days and times, visit the project website at www.honolulutransit.org or contact our hotline at 566-2299.