HART seeks public-private partnership for Honolulu rail project

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and city and county of Honolulu late last week issued a request for proposals (RFP) for a public-private partnership (P3) to help finish the area's planned 20-mile transit-rail system.

The chosen bidder would complete the City Center guideway and stations, as well as the Pearl Highlands Transit Center and Garage. The bidder also would sign a long-term operations and maintenance agreement for HART's rail system.

"Over the past couple of decades, P3 has become a project delivery method that more and more governments across the globe have found viable and advantageous in the construction and asset management of large-scale public works projects," HART officials said in an e-newsletter.

HART's board voted Sept. 27 to pursue a P3 agreement for the project. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the City Council also have expressed support for the partnership, agency officials said.

The news comes after the Federal Transit Administration in late September asked HART to submit a recovery plan that addresses the rail project's $134 million funding shortfall.