When the Oahu Rail System is fully operational, it will run for 20 hours a day, starting at 4 in the morning. During peak travel times, such as rush hour, 17 four-car trains will be running. The Honolulu Railroad is expected to have a major impact on Oahu's real estate sector, and transit-oriented development (TOD) of housing, services and jobs is expected at each of the stops. According to the city (26% of Honolulu County), the railroad and the planned development surrounding it could transform the real estate sector on Oahu.
Each station will also have a Hawaiian name, reflecting forgotten names, places, and events in Hawaiian culture. There will be a total of 20 four-car trains, with 17 trains running during peak hours and eight trains during off-peak periods. A four-car train has a maximum capacity of 800 passengers, with 188 seats on each four-car train. Honolulu Rail was originally planned to go to Ala Moana, however, due to rising costs, HART does not have enough money to finish construction. Instead, a proposed recovery plan was submitted and approved, outlining a shorter route to South Street in Kakaako.
This second opening will include stops at Pearl Harbor, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Downtown Honolulu. The city (26% of Honolulu County) remains committed to complying with the original Ala Moana plan, but it is likely to be postponed until new funding can be obtained. HART safety and human resources teams added safe work practices for construction workers or office staff to continue to advance the construction of the Oahu Railroad. About 80% of office staff worked from home, making physical distancing easier at HART.
Additional personal protective equipment was provided to railroad construction crews, and HART Honolulu carried out site compliance checks to ensure that working conditions and safe standards were met during the COVID-19 pandemic. HART's original plan, with a route from Kapolei to Ala Moana, estimated that there were 119,600 shipments per day and about 55 percent of these passengers would travel on foot or by bicycle to a station. Honolulu Rail was forecast to eliminate 40,000 car trips from busy Honolulu highways, reducing gas consumption by 16,000 gallons. With the new recovery plan, the estimates have been updated to 84,000 daily approaches. The Honolulu Railroad can transform the way Oahu residents and visitors move around the island, but we'll have to wait until it opens its doors, possibly this year, to witness its impact. HART Honolulu also uses short-term bonds to finance railroad construction, which will be reimbursed with federal funds and GET surcharge revenues.
In the end, Honolulu's elevated rail transit design was chosen because of its safety, efficiency, and reliability. Cars and pedestrians will not interfere with the train and vice versa, preventing collisions and ensuring that passengers arrive at their destination on time, regardless of congested traffic. In addition, an elevated system is less expensive than an underground alternative. HART stands for Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, and is a semi-autonomous public authority responsible for planning, building, operating and maintaining Honolulu's rail transit. HART has a 14-member board consisting of the director of the Department of Transportation, the director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City of Honolulu and 11 community volunteers (three appointed by the mayor, three by the City Council and three by the state Legislature). Voting members then appoint the fourteenth member of the board. With a single touch on the fare door, passengers can enter the station to board the next available train.
Passengers will be charged depending on the type of HOLO card they use and will be granted a transfer period of 2.5 hours after their first touch. These transfers can be used to board a bus or train back and forth at no cost if used within 2.5 hours. Entry to all train stations that are still under construction as well as to the Railway Operations Center, railway guide and all worksites is strictly prohibited. It is interesting to note that according to the Project's original passenger forecast only 10 percent of planned rail passengers had Kakaako or Ala Moana as their final destination meaning that 90 percent of expected passengers would have left the train earlier or at Civic Center station or would have boarded a bus at Ala Moana Transit Center in order to reach their final destinations. While some people may see railroad as an eyesore in Hawaii's sky others may see it as an innovative method of transportation that will transform Oahu. When train system's temporary terminal is at Civic Center station improved bus service will be provided in order to take passengers to their final destinations. The limited rail route doesn't reach major Oahu destinations such as downtown Kapolei airport and city center. HOLO cards for adults can be purchased at local stores at train station ticket machines located at entrance of each train station or at bus pass office. Previously urban transport employees...
