What are the benefits of an elevated guideway?
An elevated guideway keeps trains separate from street traffic, reducing delays caused by cars, pedestrians, or other vehicles. It also helps maintain a reliable schedule and reduces the rail system’s footprint by avoiding the need to acquire street-level space in busy corridors.
Once the Civic Center Station terminus is reached, why not proceed at street level along King Street to Ala Moana and UH?
There are several reasons that a street-level rail system would not be feasible at this point of the Honolulu rail project, including: One significant reason is that the rail system is powered via a “third rail”, which is literally a separate rail that runs alongside the tracks. The trains receive electricity from the third rail, […]
Will steel plates be used during utility relocation, and how will noise be reduced?
Yes, steel plates are sometimes used during constructon. Contractors typically place cold mix asphalt around the edges and tack weld plates together to reduce noise and provide a smoother surface for vehicles.
What is the status of the wheel/rail issues?
In late 2020, it was discovered that there was a misalignment of the wheels and rails in the double-crossovers (also known as “frogs”) due to the wheels being too narrow. As a precaution, speed restrictions were put in place for all trains traveling through the double-crossovers. An independent industry expert was engaged to evaluate the […]
What is the Mauka Shift?
The Mauka Shift refers to a plan to move a section of the rail guideway from the center of Dillingham Boulevard to the mauka side of the street. This mauka shift saves time and money for the Project by eliminating the need to relocate certain utilities. Currently there is a complex web of electricity, water, […]
If HART had to submit a Recovery Plan because of a funding shortfall, what is HART doing to address the shortfall and to save taxpayer money?
HART has, and continues to be, diligent in searching for ways to reduce the funding shortfall – and ultimately to get the Project to Ala Moana. Some ways that the shortfall is being addressed: Internal Cost Reductions: HART continues to look for ways to reduce its internal costs, including ways to improve efficiencies of internal […]
What is the purpose of the Project?
The purpose of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project is to provide high-capacity rapid transit in the highly congested east-west transportation corridor between Kapolei and UH Mānoa, as specified in the O‘ahu Regional Transportation Plan (ORTP) (O‘ahu MPO 2007). The Project is intended to provide faster, more reliable public transportation service in the study corridor than […]
How will residents of Central Oahu or North Shore use rail if the parking garage at Pearl Highlands is not built?
The planned 1,600-stall parking garage at the Pearl Highlands station will be deferred due to the excessive cost of building it at the originally planned location. However, HART and the City’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS) are committed to working together to find an alternative location for a garage. Several potential options have been discussed […]
What is being done to close the funding gap for the project?
In March 2021, a revised estimated cost to complete the project to Ala Moana Center was announced that resulted in a funding shortfall. There are several ways that the shortfall is being addressed: Internal Cost Reductions:HART is exploring ways to improve efficiencies of internal processes, eliminate redundancies and better manage costs, among other things. Recent […]