PB to develop Honolulu high-capacity transit project

The City and County of Honolulu, Department of Transportation Services (DTS), awarded a contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) to provide engineering services for the development of a high-capacity transit project.  

The project will study how to improve the ability of people to move in the highly congested east-west corridor between Kapolei and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Over 60 percent of Oahu’s population currently lives within the area served by this corridor, which extends approximately 34 miles.  

Per a 2006 study conducted by PB, an elevated, fixed-guideway transit system extending from Kapolei to UH Manoa with a connection to Waikiki, was chosen as the locally preferred alternative. The Council then selected a 20-mile line from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center as the first project to be implemented. PB has been hired to provide planning and engineering services for the preliminary engineering and environmental impact statement (EIS) phase of the project.  

PB’s assignment is scheduled for completion in early 2010. Construction on the transit system could begin in late 2009.