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The city of Honolulu and Mayor Peter Carlisle recently appointed a total of six members to the newly formed Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), which will oversee the Honolulu Rail Transit project connecting East Kapolei with Ala Moana Center.

Oahu voters previously approved a charter amendment to create HART, which takes effect on July 1. The authority will include three members appointed by the city council; three appointed by the mayor; the city’s and state’s transportation directors; and a ninth member chosen by the eight members.

Carlisle appointed retired union representative William Hong, Corporation Counsel Carrie Okinaga and First Hawaiian Bank Chairman Don Horner to HART, while the city appointed attorney Ivan Lui-Kwan, strategic planner Keslie Hui, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Business Manager and Financial Secretary Damien Kim.

The $5.5 billion Honolulu Rail Transit project calls for building a 20-mile, 21-station elevated-rail system. The first leg is scheduled to open in 2015 and entire route is slated for completion in 2019.