HART WEEKLY eNEWS
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FORMER FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION CHIEF VISITS HONOLULU
Former Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff was the featured speaker today at the annual meeting of Move Oahu Forward, the group of business and non-profit corporation leaders who support and advocate for the Honolulu rail project.
Rogoff assured the audience that Honolulu's rail system will be transformative despite the ups and downs the project has endured over the years of development.
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Former Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff addresses
"Move Oahu Forward"
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He cited many examples from experiences with rail in the city of Seattle where he is currently the CEO of Sound Transit. Seattle is enjoying ever-increasing transit ridership as it continues to expand its popular rail system.
Rogoff is familiar with Honolulu's project. He signed the Full Funding Grant Agreement that commits $1.55 billion in federal funding for Honolulu.
He stated that a public-private partnership (P3) could be beneficial for HART and the City as a method to complete, operate and maintain the Honolulu rail project. He added that there should also be a backup plan, and that Sound Transit itself is considering using P3s for some of its projects.
Rogoff urged HART to plan well-ahead for replacement of train vehicles, to make sure that integration of TheBus and rail works well for public transportation passengers, and to prepare people now to get ready to ride a rail system that will be a benefit for Honolulu for decades to come.
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HART & ANSALDO HONOLULU J.V. TAKE DELIVERY OF
TRAIN NUMBER 3
 
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and contractor Ansaldo Honolulu Joint Venture have taken delivery of the third train in the growing fleet for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project.
The four cars that make up the 260-foot long train were hauled from the Hitachi Rail Italy final assembly plant in Pittsburg, California to port in San Diego, before being shipped to  Oahu and off-loaded at Honolulu Harbor. The cars were then transported to the Project's Rail Operations Center (ROC) in Waipahu.
Ansaldo Honolulu is expecting delivery of more trains over the next several months. Eventually, twenty trains will comprise HART's full fleet, with as many as seventeen trains operating during peak hours when the rail system is fully operational.
"This is a significant step forward in the delivery of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project," said HART Executive Director Andrew Robbins. "We've conducted extensive testing of our first two initial trains over the last several months and, with more trains making their way to Honolulu, we are getting closer to providing much-anticipated passenger service."
Engineers Assemble HART's Train #3 at the Rail Operations Facility in Waipahu
The Honolulu Rail Transit Project is targeting late-2020 for interim service between Kapolei and Aloha Stadium, with full-service slated for 2025.
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 HART JOINS FIRST RESPONDERS
AT "
READY2REACT"
The HART Public Involvement Team joined a host of City, State, and Federal agencies recently to take part in the
"Ready2React" Emergency Preparedness Event
at the  Pearlridge Center. The annual event is aimed at helping residents learn how to be more prepared in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
HART representatives were on hand to answer questions and share information on the Honolulu Rail Transit Project overall, and in particular, about the
 Kalauao Station which will give passengers easy access to the Pearlridge Center and the surrounding areas.
With westside interim service now just over two years away, HART is continually working with its safety advisory team and first-responders to put together a series of plans to best deal with any safety and security issues rail passengers may encounter.
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Rendering of the Kalauao (Pearlridge) Station
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TEAM HART WALKS AWAY WITH TOP HONORS AT THE 23rd HAWAII DRAGONBOAT FESTIVAL
Congratulations to Team HART for making a great showing at last weekend's Hawaii Dragonboat Festival at Ala Moana Beach Park. The HART crews not only managed to finish tops in the "City & County Division" of the event, they were also able to claim first place
overall!
A big shout out to HART's Human Resource Specialist Dember Domen (middle), Cultural Planner Kawika Farm (left) and Assistant Deputy Director of Planning Ryan Tam (right) for helping coordinate HART's participation. A big mahalo as well goes out to all of HART's participants and volunteers who helped make the event a success, as well as all of those who turned out to have a great day of fun-in-the-sun for the 23rd Dragonboat Festival.
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AS HURRICANE HECTOR ENTERS
THE CENTRAL PACIFIC...
...AN IMPORTANT REMINDER
According to Homeland Security, when a storm hits, access to supplies such as food, water, medicine, gasoline, and other basic necessities can be limited as residents make a last minute rush to purchase these items. Additionally, should a storm impact our state, individuals, families and businesses are advised to prepare to be on their own for at least 14 days, meaning, it is advisable to have a 14-day supply of the above mentioned necessities on hand before a storm arrives.
Here are a few online resources to assist you in increasing your hurricane preparedness:
The City & County of Honolulu: 
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell:
The City & County of Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management:
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
The NOAA/National Weather Service:
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WEEKLY LANE CLOSURE INFORMATION
Locator maps for major lane closures can be viewed on our website:
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SHOP & DINE ON THE LINE
Discounts and special offers supporting local businesses:
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the next several days, now is the time to take the necessary precautions to prepare yourself and your family should Hector (or any other tropical storm) make its way into Hawaiian waters.
