| Work Detail |
Work is set to start on the first fully automated, driverless light urban metro system in the US following a contract award to Tutor Perini. The US$1.66 billion contract involves the design and construction of six train stations and approximately three miles of elevated rail guideway.
The rail line would extend from east of the Middle Street Transit Centre Station to Civic Centre Station in downtown Honolulu. To-be-constructed Civic Centre Station shall be east of the intersection at Halekauwila Street and South Street.
Scope of the project
The light railway, that will run the whole project-18.9 miles with 19 stations-has been tagged as the “largest public infrastructure project in the history of Hawaii.” It also represents the largest single contract of the whole project, which is expected to begin construction in the second half of next year. Tutor Perini estimates that most of the light urban metro system will be completed by 2030.
More on the project
According to the project details provided by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation while awarding the project to Tutor Perini, the rail system was intended to give a faster public transportation service along O?ahu’s south shore. The project has modified under Federal Transit Administration accepted Recovery Plan in order to reduce the federal funding to push the last 1.25 miles of guideway and final two stations. Additionally, work on the Pearl Highlands Parking Garage has also been delayed.
“We are pleased to team up with Tutor Perini to design and build the next section of the Honolulu rail transit project. The system will, one day, carry Skyline over the downtown and into Kakaako,” Lori Kahikina, P.E. the HART Executive Director and CEO said. “With great experience in large transportation infrastructure projects, I’m looking forward to collaborating with them on the design phase of this segment.”
The Dallas-Houston high-speed rail
Meanwhile, plans for a high-speed rail line to connect two of Texas’ largest cities inched closer to reality after reportedly landing a $63.9 million federal grant for the project back in August. The would-be 240-mile route between Dallas and Houston would allow for trains traveling at 205 miles per hour, shaving the travel time between the two locales to less than 90 minutes. According to Amtrak and Texas Central-the company behind the high-speed rail proposal-it would cut more than 100,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, removing 12,500 cars a day off Texas’s I-45. Meanwhile, it also faced opposition from local landowners.
“If we are going to add more high-speed rail to this country, the Dallas to Houston Corridor is a compelling proposition and offers great potential,” said Andy Byford, Amtrak’s senior vice president of high-speed rail development programs
Project Overview
Location: Middle Street Transit Centre Station to Civic Centre Station in downtown Honolulu, east of the intersection at Halekauwila Street and South Street
Developer: Tutor Perini
Cost: US$1.66 billion
Scope: 18.9 miles |
