HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii rail officials have released a recovery plan for the unfinished public transit project on Oahu. ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii rail officials have released a recovery plan for the unfinished public transit project on Oahu. The
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii rail officials have released a recovery plan for the unfinished public transit project on Oahu.
The report calls for a less-expensive plan to end the concrete pathway near Aloha Tower and eliminate seven stations along the route. The original plan had been to create 21 stations on 20 miles of elevated pathway, leading to the Ala Moana Center.
“Plan B,” as it is referred to in the report, could cut rail ridership by about 60 percent. The rail also would face delays to assemble new environmental studies and deal with litigation.
The report comes after state House and Senate negotiators agreed to a tentative deal last week to help pay for the rail’s approximately $3 billion shortfall by increasing the state hotel tax to 12 percent.
It also follows renewed debate over the best way forward for the rail. Some have advocated for stopping the line at Middle Street, while others want to bring the rail to ground level for the last four miles into town or want to have the project scrapped altogether.
The report was required by the Federal Transportation Authority after the project’s costs soared from $5.8 billion to $8.2 billion. Including financing costs, the project is estimated to cost as much as $10 billion.
The rail’s current budget is about $6.8 billion.
