Spotlight Now: The future of Honolulu’s rail project and vision for downtown Honolulu
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - In the first episode of the new year, “Spotlight Now” takes a look at the future of Honolulu’s rail project and the vision for downtown Honolulu.
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit CEO Lori Kahikina spoke about the $324 million Hitachi lawsuit against HART, and while she couldn’t give a lot of specifics, she said they tried to settle their issues in mediation, but those talks broke down.
And get ready for a lot more traffic delays through Dillingham and into downtown Honolulu!
Kahikina said we can expect seven years of traffic tie-ups along the third segment of the rail line, and even when the construction goes away, you will never be able to make a left on Dillingham Boulevard where you are not allowed to now, because they’re only going to restore the left turns at the traffic signals.
Christine Camp, CEO of Avalon Hawaii, is spearheading a lot of new development in downtown Honolulu. She has eight projects underway there, including pickleball courts in the old Walmart space, which are set for a soft open on Jan. 20.
She also talked about the transformation she expects downtown will undergo in the next five to seven years; a timeline that corresponds to the opening of the rail line in that area, assuming HART completes its work on time by 2031.
Next week, Gov. Josh Green and state Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen join “Spotlight Now.”
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