Rough track ahead for rail

The Rail Operations Center (ROC) in Pearl City looks almost ready to roll, but don’t forget: The rail alignment itself is only up halfway through its 20-mile finished length. Nine of the planned 21 stations are somewhere on the road to construction, said Doug Herring, electrical engineer on the project.

Here are some of the bumps in the road ahead:

>> The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has turned in its final “recovery plan” to the Federal Transit Administration. If the FTA decides the revised fiscal blueprint provides a firm path to the project’s completion, HART can count on the balance of its $1.55 billion federal subsidy.

>> The newly enlarged dedicated funding source is expected to fill out a revised cost estimate of $9 billion, which includes financing charges and contingency. This was enabled by a $2.4 billion bailout package authorized by the state Legislature in a recent special session, including a new surcharge on the statewide transient accommodations tax as well as an extension of Oahu’s general excise tax surcharge earmarked for rail.

>> An $875 million design-build contract for the airport section was signed with Shimmick/Traylor/Granite, a joint venture. Completion of this segment will bring the alignment as far as Middle Street.

>> The bidding process to design and build the final City Center section of 4.3 miles was postponed. This is the most difficult section, crossing through the dense Dillingham and Downtown corridor. HART officials have said they want time to solve some of the utility relocation problems to reduce risk for contractors and to explore public-private partnerships, in an attempt to cut some of the taxpayer costs.

>> Then there are the disputes that are sure to persist, with new ones erupting. To name one: Pending federal approvals have delayed HART’s court-ordered settlement payment to Honolulu Hardwoods, one of the businesses dislodged by the rail project.

And there’s a lot more turf standing between HART and the end of the line — which officials still hope is Ala Moana Center.