Before a crowd of more than 400 people, Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle kicked off construction of the city's rail transit project at a ceremonial ground breaking and blessing Feb. 22, held near the site of the first of 21 stations planned along the 20-mile route.

"The Honolulu rail transit project will transform how we travel, work, play, and live," Carlisle said. "The project is the effort of many people throughout the years. Rail will provide thousands of jobs for our local workforce, relieve traffic congestion, improve mobility, and pave the way for an exciting future for Oahu residents. It is our gift to a better future."

Other speakers at the event--held along Kualakai Parkway (North-South Road) in East Kapolei--included Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, and Honolulu City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia.

The elevated rail system, with an estimated cost of $4.4 billion, will stretch from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, including stations in communities such as Waipahu, Pearl City, Aiea, Kalihi, Chinatown, Downtown Honolulu, and Kakaako. Additional stations will serve activity centers such as the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, Leeward Community College, Pearl Highlands, Pearlridge, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu International Airport, and Honolulu Community College.

The city has already awarded a construction contract for the first phase of the elevated rail guideway from East Kapolei to Pearl City. A second contract for the train storage and maintenance facility in Waipahu is expected to be executed shortly. The city plans to award two more major contracts this year for the second phase of the rail route, from Pearl City to Aloha Stadium, and for the "core systems," which consists of the train vehicles and the control center for the rail system.

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