The Honolulu Rapid Transit Authority (HART), upon approval of the 2022 Restoration Plan by the FTA, will invest the remaining federally committed rail projects under a Full Funding Agreement (FFGA) with the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA). Remain eligible to receive funds.
“Since HART submitted its recovery plan in June, we have been working with the FTA in weekly meetings to move the process towards approval of the recovery plan. , thank you for the support and communication from the FTA in amending its unprecedented full funding agreement, which is a sign of strong confidence in the work of this Administration and in its cooperation and partnership with its many stakeholders.”
The 2022 Recovery Plan, submitted to the FTA in June 2022, was required by the FTA to document HART’s plans to complete the rail project within the funds projected to be available. The recovery plan includes amending the FFGA to reflect a rail project that is 1.25 miles shorter than the original scope of work. The project will end at the Civic Center station instead of the Ala Moana Transit Center, temporarily delaying construction of the Pearl Highland parking lot. This reduces the estimated project cost from $10.46 billion to $9.93 billion.
Hart says projected funding will be sufficient to cover reduced scope costs. Future stages of the project to build the remainder of the original rail line are being planned.
There is $744 million in federal funds allocated to HART, with $125 million allocated at the end of the revised FFGA and $250 million, according to a letter from FTA Regional Administrator Ray Terris. conditional on the second release of About awarding contracts for city center guideways and stations. HART expects the contract to be awarded in fiscal 2024.
Amending the FFGA to incorporate the proposed shorter rail project is subject to the FTA’s ongoing reassessment of the National Environmental Policy Act.
Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) said: “We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to ensure the completion of this project for the people of Honolulu.”
