HART finishes first 100 support columns for Honolulu rail system

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) earlier this month completed the first 100 support columns of its planned elevated rail system.

Crews finished work on the 100th column along Kualakai Parkway in East Kapolei last week. HART officials anticipate having 220 columns installed by year's end. The columns will support the elevated guideway for the first 10 miles of the rail route, according to a HART press release.

"The fact that we've gone from 16 completed columns to 100 in less than nine months shows tremendous progress for rail," said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. "We're moving forward and are well on our way to providing a safe, reliable transportation system that will improve the quality of life for our island residents."

Other rail work already under way includes construction of the train maintenance and operations center in Waipahu, and production of the guideway segments in Kalaeloa. Guideway installation work is also under way in East Kapolei.

"We're also scheduled to award several major construction contracts later this year, including one for the second half of the rail guideway from Aloha Stadium to Ala Moana Center," said HART Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Dan Grabauskas.

The first 10 miles of the rail system from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium is expected to open in 2017, with the full 20-mile line ready for service in 2019.