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Construction-delay costs for the $5.3 billion Honolulu rail transit project that stem from a recent state Supreme Court ruling are coming in lower than anticipated, according to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART).

Delay costs for three rail construction contracts recently came in 31 percent lower than budgeted, HART officials said in a prepared statement. Project contractor Kiewit Infrastructure/West Co. recently filed delay claims for construction contracts for the first two phases of the rail route from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, and the train maintenance and storage facility in Waipahu, they said.

Costs associated with delay claims for September and October for the two rail guideway construction contracts — West Oahu-Farrington Highway and Kamehameha Highway — came in 36 percent and 31 percent lower than anticipated, respectively. But, September delay costs for the maintenance and storage facility construction contract came in 16 percent higher than projected.

Construction-delay costs include labor, construction equipment and materials, and overhead.

In compliance with the recent court ruling, HART is completing archaeological fieldwork along the entire rail alignment. Findings are expected to be submitted to the state's Historic Preservation Division later this year.

Project officials hope to resume rail construction in West Oahu this fall, said HART Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Dan Grabauskas.

"HART will continue to work with the contractor on future delay claims and how to keep these costs as low as possible until rail construction can resume later this year," he said.

The 20-mile, 21-station rail line will transport riders to West Oahu, Pearl City, Aloha Stadium, Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Honolulu International Airport, downtown Honolulu and Ala Moana Center.