Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Will highlight work created by artists who have a strong understanding of and affinity for Hawaii’s history and culture. The art will be displayed at the 21 stations along the rail route and at the train control center in Waipahu.

The move to integrate the two transit systems could save money but also cut positions.

Monies are part of $255 million in federal funds currently available for the Honolulu rail transit project this fiscal year. The project to date has $320 million available in federal funds under the Full Funding Grant Agreement.

The overall project has an estimated construction value of $5.17 billion and will run 20 miles in its entirety, from Kapolei to Honolulu’s Ala Moana Shopping Center. It is slated to open during 2019.

The funding agreement seals the federal commitment to the project — a 20-mile rail line with 21 rail stations.

Signing is the final step of the FTA’s New Starts federal funding process for new rail systems, and makes available $200 million to the Honolulu rail project for fiscal year 2012.

The latest shift in public support, with half of surveyed voters now on board with the project, comes primarily from Filipino-Americans and working-age voters. Three months ago, only 44% of Oahu voters polled said work on the project should continue.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation CEO told the City Council that the agency bases the figure on contractor delay claims, change orders and new expenses tied to the court-ordered construction shutdown of the rail project.

Kiewit had asked for more than $13 million for the delays, but HART’s process determined that the $7.2 million was fair. The project is expected to be delayed for approximately a year.

Last week, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that state and city officials should not proceed with construction on the rail project until it completed an archaeological study of the entire 20-mile route.