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The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) board has chosen Daniel Grabauskas, the former general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), as the finalist for the agency’s chief executive officer post.

The full board is scheduled to make a final decision on the potential appointment during a meeting on Thursday, HART officials said in a prepared statement.

Currently, Grabauskas is chairman and senior strategic adviser of the Bronner Center for Transportation Management. As GM of MBTA, he oversaw a 6,100-employee organization with an annual operating budget of $1.4 billion and an annual capital budget of $500 million. He resigned in 2009.

Grabauskas’ experience also includes stints as senior fellow for public policy at the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth and as the state’s secretary of transportation.

“His leadership experience with one of the nation’s largest public transportation networks, his familiarity with navigating the federal funding process and his passion for public service make him well suited to lead HART at this important juncture,” said HART Chairman Keslie Hui.

If approved by the board, Grabauskas will assume the CEO post in April.

HART manages the Honolulu Rail Transit project, which calls for building a 20-mile, 21-station elevated rail system to connect East Kapolei with Ala Moana Center.