Tuesday, July 08, 2025

Honolulu’s elevated rail (the Skyline) turned 2 years old this week and is now heading into its final phase of construction, for the last three miles and six stations,

  After enduring years of delays and cost overruns ― rail leaders are trying several tactics to save money and meet deadlines.

They are ending the use of precast concrete individual guideway segments installed by massive and expensive overhead gantries in favor of an old-school solution, just like highway bridges, with concrete girders and a deck laid down between columns, Scanlon explained.

“It’s able to be constructed with everything that’s already on island ― the precast yards, the concrete providers, and the cranes that are on island,” Scanlon said. “So, it’s not specialty equipment having to be procured, constructed, and then shipped to the island.”

(So, why the hell wasn't this the obvious way to build the rail line from the start and save SO MUCH MONEY?)

Escalators have been a feature on every one of Skyline’s stations so far, but Honolulu Area for Rapid Transit CEO Lori Kahikina, said HART decided they are too costly and hard to maintain and won’t be part of stations for the busiest part of the system.

They'll be trading escalators for elevators.

In addition to the lack of escalators, the stations will look different. For example, the tensile fabric canopies will be replaced as part of the more austere attitude, likely with steel roofs covered with solar panels.



The initial segment serves no major employment centers from Kapolei to the empty stadium. Ridership has been meager, but the city Department of Transportation Services says they are trending up.

In its second year, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, the city says Skyline recorded 1,204,341 trips while costing $89,163,189 to operate.


The segment is scheduled for completion in 2030.

The next significant milestone for the project is three months away: October 1 is the opening of segment two ― from the stadium to Middle Street, including the airport.

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2 comments:

  1. gonzo8:02 PM

    “Escalators have been a feature on every one of Skyline’s stations so far”

    that is incorrect. According to hart’s web site, the Ho’opili station and Leeward Community college station do not have escalators. None of the stations east of the long defunct Aloha stadium will have escalators.

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    1. Jesse8:12 PM

      that none east will have escalators, is what the article said. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/07/05/honolulu-rail-project-streamlines-stations-tactics-save-money/
      So, ok, they said it, you said it, hey... I'm a believer!
      And as for the other thing, I'm not there on Oahu anymore, I'm just reporting what the https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/07/05/honolulu-rail-project-streamlines-stations-tactics-save-money/ article says. They are there, and dang it, I expected them to be correct

      Delete