Compact News Hawaii: City and County of Honolulu News

Friday, April 20, 2012

CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN ON COLUMNS, FOUNDATIONS OF RAIL SYSTEM

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation announced today that construction will

begin on the first section of the elevated guideway for the rail transit system, signifying major

progress for the project.

With all the necessary state and federal approvals needed to move forward in hand, HART

gave contractor Kiewit InfrastructureWest Co. the green light to begin drilling for the

concrete foundation shafts and support columns. The work will begin Monday in East

Kapolei near Farrington Highway in the first section of the 20-mile route.

"This significant milestone for the rail project moves us closer to providing Oahu residents

with an alternative to sitting in horrific traffic congestion," said Dan Grabauskas, HART's

executive director and CEO. "We want to thank the Federal Transit Administration and state

agencies that have worked closely with us on all of the necessary approvals. This is indeed a

great day for Oahu."

This next stage of construction will provide the public with concrete assurances of the

project's momentum, said HART Board of Directors Chairwoman Carrie Okinaga.

"We are really pleased that this day has come. Keeping the project on schedule is critical to

keeping our costs within budget, so we welcome this news," Okinaga said. "The HART Board

of Directors remains strongly committed to ensuring the project stays on track and is

completed on time and within budget."

The 20-mile rail transit system from East Kapolei to Ala Moana is expected to open in 2019.

For updates on construction work days and times and more details about the project, visit the

project website at www.honolulutransit.org or contact our hotline at 566-2299.

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Media Contacts:

Jeanne Mariani-Belding (808) 768-6145, cell: (808) 489-2530

Scott Ishikawa, (808) 768-6172, cell: (808) 227-2350

Compact News Hawaii