Rail contractor Kiewit/Ko­bayashi, a Joint Venture, has awarded a $60 million subcontract to the Pennsylvania-based L.B. Foster Co. for steel rail for the 20-mile line as well as concrete ties, fasteners and special track work.

L.B. Foster Co. announced Wednesday that the contract to provide materials for the project as well as the electrified third rail with accessories is the largest rail products order in the company’s history.

The rail and other materials will be installed along the elevated line from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, as well as in the rail car maintenance and storage facility near Leeward Community College.

"Our L.B. Foster team has a long and successful relationship with Kiewit. We have worked closely with this leading contractor to provide quality products for signature projects throughout North America," Hakan Eksi, general manager of L.B. Foster Transit Products, said in a written statement.

Kiewit/Kobayashi was awarded a $195 million contract last year to build the maintenance and storage facility. That contract includes buying the steel for the entire line.

The cost of steel turned out to be higher than city officials originally expected.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation in April approved a $15.9 million change order to cover increases in the cost of steel since Kiewit obtained price quotes more than two years ago for the maintenance and storage facility contract.

The city has included contingency money in the financial plan for the $5.26 billion project that is being used to cover the unbudgeted additional cost of the steel.