Stantec has been selected to continue construction engineering and inspection services for the east section of Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) driverless and electric light rail project.

The $119 million contract is an extension of existing construction and engineering services Stantec is providing to HART and will run through the end of 2026, with the possibility of a five-year extension to expected project completion in 2031. Stantec staff will assist with construction management and successful project delivery for HART’s large construction projects, including the light rail guideway, rail stations, and utility relocation.

“HART light rail is one of the most iconic transit projects in the United States, and a game-changer for transportation in Hawaii,” said Brian Norris, Stantec’s project manager and transportation business line leader. “We are extremely proud of the work we are doing, and this effort is essential to delivering the project for the people of Hawaii. Project management and construction management are growth areas for our transportation business, and we continue to provide this expertise across markets in North America.”

HART’s light rail system is fully electric and will be the first driverless light rail system in the U.S. by connecting several transit and retail hubs on the island of Oahu. The 20-mile, 21-station elevated system will connect West Oahu with the Honolulu International Airport, downtown Honolulu, and the Ala Moana Center.

Honolulu’s population is expected to grow 10% by 2045. HART light rail will support that growth by connecting people with jobs, healthcare, and education; connecting visitors to beaches, hotels, and attractions; and reducing congestion of surface traffic. At the same time, HART light rail will contribute to Hawaii’s climate goals by reducing transportation carbon emissions.

“Light rail is an essential part of improving transportation in Hawaii and reaching our climate goals,” said Lori Kahikina, executive director/CEO, HART. “Providing a connecting spine through downtown, important transit centers, and the airport will vastly improve our transit system. Stantec has been with us from the early days, and we value their expertise and longstanding service in delivering the project.”

Stantec’s work on this fully electric system also supports the company’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, namely industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG 9); sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11); and climate action (SDG 13).

Stantec has seen exponential growth in Hawaii since work began on HART. From a single employee in 2015, the firm now has more than 40 full-time employees on the Islands. In addition to its work on the HART project, the team also supports large-scale projects in the community development, alternative energy, environmental services, buildings, water, and transportation sectors.

With this new contract underway and other projects ramping up, the Honolulu office is set to continue its expansion through continued support of City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Department of Transportation, and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. This includes additional transportation projects throughout the state related to ports and marine, dry docks, airports, and local infrastructure.