In an effort to aid businesses hurt by rail construction, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials have launched a program that seeks to support local shops by offering discounts and other specials.

The “Shop & Dine on the Line” program, launched Wednesday, is a partnership between HART and dozens of businesses located near rail construction along Farrington Highway in Waipahu and Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City and Aiea. Participating restaurants and stores offer discounts to customers to help generate more business. So far, about 65 businesses have signed up.

HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas said the program will highlight businesses and publicize discounts through various outreach efforts. The cost to organize and launch it was “pretty minimal” and the goal is to grow the initiative, he said.

“Is it the panacea to cure all the problems with traffic and the impacts and the difficulty to get here? No,” Grabauskas said at a news conference Wednesday at Shiro’s Saimin Haven in Aiea. “The idea is that these businesses are also trying to meet the public halfway. If you’ll take the extra effort to come down here and shop, they’re going to give you a little extra bonus for doing that.”

For several months, businesses have voiced frustration with ongoing construction that has closed left turns into their properties, many saying that the traffic has deterred customers from visiting their shops.

Linda Matsuo, president of Shiro’s Saimin Haven, said the restaurant in Waimalu Shopping Center is participating in the program because she believes it will be beneficial.

“If it brings people in, we won’t be losing,” Matsuo said, adding that in the past eight months sales have declined about $10,000 to $15,000 per month.

“My main message is to please beg, anything, grovel for public support for all of the businesses along Kamehameha Highway on the rail route,” she said. “We are all suffering.”

Mayor Kirk Caldwell commended HART but called for more action to aid businesses.

“It is a first step of what is going to have to be a very vigorous program by HART to make sure that during the construction period, the businesses that are impacted are helped as much as possible,” Caldwell said.

But Garrett Littman, property manager of Pearl Kai Shopping Center in Aiea, said though the program could benefit some of his tenants, he questioned whether others could afford to participate.

“If you’re struggling, how can you offer a discount or special? That’s just the reality of it,” Littman said. “But at the same token, if they’re able to put their name on some type of promotional flier … I think it’s a good opportunity.”

For more information, visit shopanddineontheline.com.