The interim director of the city’s rail project said Thursday it would be cheaper to start construction now on support columns for the elevated system than it would be to delay construction, and said that would be true even if the city were forced later to rip down the columns.
Toru Hamayasu, interim executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, told members of the City Council Budget Committee that each month of construction delays adds $10 million to the cost of the 20-mile project.
Council members who have generally supported rail in the past challenged some of HART’s decisions Thursday and expressed concern that federal funding for the project might not materialize.
Council member Ikaika Anderson repeatedly questioned Hamayasu on the timing of the project, asking why the city is starting construction before the federal government has committed to provide $1.55 billion to help fund it.
Hamayasu said an analysis by HART concluded that having contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. build the guideway columns now will cost less, even if they have to be torn down later.
"Obviously we don’t think that we’re going to get to that point, but even if we do, yeah, tearing it down would be cheaper," Hamayasu said.
He said the extra cost stems from inflation and from delay claims that would be triggered if the entire rail project, including multiple construction contracts, are stalled for another six months or more.
The city signed a contract with Kiewit in 2009 to build the first segment of elevated rail guideway, and heavy construction is scheduled to begin this month. HART has already agreed to pay a $15 million change order to Kiewit because of project delays.
Still, Council members suggested the city ought to delay construction on the $5.27 billion project until the federal government formally agrees to provide its share of funding. The city expects the Federal Transit Administration will provide that commitment in September or October.
That drew a sharp response from Don Horner, chairman of the HART Board of Directors’ Finance Committee. Horner said HART is carrying out a prudent plan, and said Kiewit and dozens of subcontractors are mobilizing and hiring workers.
"You want us to tell them to go back on the bench? Is that what you’re asking us to do?" Horner said.
Anderson asked Hamayasu whether HART would delay construction if the Council passed a resolution urging HART to wait until the FTA commits to funding the project.
Hamayasu said he would have to get guidance on that from the HART board. He also promised to provide Anderson with the calculations that show it is cheaper to begin construction now.
Anderson said he needs those calculations because "I am absolutely uncomfortable going in front of people and giving them that answer" that Hama­yasu offered without the specific cost estimates.
"I’m hearing from people across Oahu who are concerned that the city is going to be building columns for this fixed guideway that we’re only going to have to turn around and tear down, and that greatly concerns people," Anderson said after the meeting. "It greatly concerns me."
Anderson said he will review the calculations Hamayasu provides before deciding whether to introduce a resolution seeking to delay construction
Opponents of the project, including former Gov. Ben Cayetano, have sued in federal court in an effort to stop it.
The critics’ lawsuit alleges the environmental impact statement is flawed and violates the National Environmental Policy Act in a variety of ways. The suit claims the city failed to properly consider what some believe are potentially viable alternatives to rail, including toll roads or improvements to the bus system.
The lawsuit asks the federal court to block construction until a supplemental environmental impact statement is done to correct alleged problems with the impact statement.
Cayetano is also running for mayor, and has said he will stop the project if he is elected.
