Several businesses along the rail line are frustrated with ongoing construction and traffic, many seeking answers from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on the blocking of left turns into their lots.

Data released by HART show that along the first 10 miles of the 20-mile transit system, 64 left turns will be closed at some point during construction. Of that number, HART said 45 will be temporary and officials are looking at permanently eliminating 19.

The affected left turns are along Farrington Highway in Waipahu and Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City and Aiea — where the guideway will go up on the medians. No left turns are affected in Kapolei.

“The 19 that we’re saying are considered for closure, the plan is to close them right now unless there are opportunities to find different solutions,” said HART Deputy Executive Director Brennon Morioka. “On a permanent basis, the decision on whether to close a left turn or not is really based on safety. Now you have these columns in the middle of the roadway, and it becomes very difficult for people to see oncoming traffic.”

HART said it did not have information on left turns that will be eliminated from Aloha Stadium to Ala Moana Center because contractors for the remaining 10 miles have not been selected. The last leg of the rail line includes the airport, Kalihi, Chinatown, downtown and Kakaako.

“We will be hiring a contractor team … that will have both a construction contractor as well as a designer as a part of their team,” Morioka said. “We have provided enough flexibility in those contracts where the contractor might come and propose certain modifications to the roadway that we might not have thought of. I’d rather not speculate what a contractor might be proposing.”

Morioka, formerly the state’s transportation director, said during the environmental impact statement process started in 2005 the issue of closing medians was discussed at public meetings.

The contractor, Kiewit, started the design process in 2010 and 2011, when it was determined that “many of the locations should be closed for safety purposes,” he said.

“Our construction work does have impacts. We realize that,” Morioka said. “We’re very cognizant of many of their (businesses) struggles, which is why we are very sympathetic and empathetic about what they’re facing.”

Kiewit officials create traffic-control plans that typically provide alternate routes for the closures, said Morioka, who signs off on the final plans.

But the closures, both temporary and permanent, are seen by many as unacceptable.

In Waipahu, where construction of the guideway along Farrington Highway has begun, businesses and residents say they are feeling a strain due to traffic congestion and lane closures.

Businesses in the Waipahu Professional Center on Farrington Highway have reported a decline in revenue since the loss of left-turn access into their lot, said Jared Watumull, vice president of Watumull Properties Corp., which manages the center of 15 tenants.

Watumull said HART could have done a better job of notifying his company of the closure, adding that customers are deterred from driving to the property due to the multiple lane closures along Farrington Highway.

“We’re not against it (rail). I feel that once everything’s done, it’s going to bring great value to our property,” Watumull said. “I’m looking forward to that day but hopefully I don’t lose every tenant.”

Morioka said officials have been informing residents and businesses about lane closures during public meetings, as well as through canvassing efforts as part of HART’s outreach program.

Workers at nearby Tanioka’s Seafoods and Catering sought help from the Waipahu Neighborhood Board last month, saying that they have compiled thousands of signatures to request the reopening of the left turn into their lot.

They maintained that the loss in revenue has forced them to cut some of their hours, the first time they have done so since opening in 1978.

“When the construction happened, we had to make adjustments,” said the store’s chief financial officer, Jasmine Tanioka. “We’ve been here for 37 years. We just want to make sure that we’ll be around for another 30 to 50 years.”

Officials said they would try to find a solution, but Waipahu Neighborhood Board members expressed frustration due to the lack of answers provided to them on whether the left turn could be reopened.

In Aiea and Pearl City, several businesses echoed concerns about left-turn closures.

Paul Yokota, president of Zippy’s Restaurants, said the company has seen an impact since rail construction began at five of its locations — Waipahu, Pearl City, Waiau, Waimalu and Pearlridge.

“Certainly we’ve seen an impact,” Yokota said. “We’ve been coordinating (with HART and Kiewit) … and we provide that information on the website.”

The restaurant’s website updates customers on lane closures and provides alternate routes for those five locations.

Tenants at Pearl Kai Shopping Center on Kamehameha Highway in Aiea had pleaded with HART officials to reopen a vital westbound left-turn lane into their lot. Crews initially planned to keep the lane closed after construction was completed, but now said they will reopen it after work is done next year.

HART spokeswoman Jeanne Mariani-Belding said there have been about a dozen meetings with businesses located in the Aloha Stadium to Ala Moana Center area about concerns due to rail construction.

Morioka added that HART will require in the contract for the last 10 miles that officials hold more public meetings during the design process.

“We know that communication with people along the corridor can always be improved, even though I think we’ve done quite a bit of outreach,” Morioka said. “Part of the complaint is that people would actually like more.”

The frustrations come as City Council members unanimously approved a bill last week that would make grants and loans available to businesses hurt by rail construction. But it is still unclear how the city will obtain the funds for the program and at what amounts.

Councilman Brandon Elefante, who represents Waipahu, Pearl City and Aiea, said there was a sense of urgency to get the bill passed as construction moves into other areas.

Elefante said he has met with several businesses worried about the time frame of the lane closures, but added that others see the benefits once rail becomes operational.

“There are multiple concerns,” Elefante said. “A lot of businesses, they’re anticipating how it will be. … It (a mitigation fund) will help. It does provide a tool for businesses to tap into.”