STRONG SUPPORT FOR RAIL IN D.C.

U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (center) welcomed (l to r) HART CEO Dan Grabauskas, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, City Council Chair Ernie Martin and HART Board Chair Ivan Lui-Kwan to Washington this week for discussions about the Honolulu rail project.

HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas traveled to Washington, D.C. this week along with HART Board Chairman Ivan Lui-Kwan, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and City Council Chairman Ernie Martin to update federal officials on the status of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project.

"This was the most positive set of meetings I have attended in my two years on the project," said HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas. "We can report that the lawsuits have been settled, construction is underway and people are being hired at a record pace. "

The Honolulu officials met with Hawaii's Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, and with staff members of Representatives Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard. They also had meetings with U.S. Department of Transportation officials, as well as several congressional transportation committee members in the U.S. House.

"It's important for us to meet not only with our own congressional delegation, but also with members of congress from the rest of the country who are key members of the authorizing or appropriating committees that actually forward the money to our project."

Grabauskas said one of the strong messages HART is getting both from Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate is that now that HART has its full funding grant, has overcome the legal hurdles is back to full construction, the rail project is in the best position to continue to receive money from Congress.

              INDUSTRY DAY II 

More than 200 people participated in HART's Industry Day event last October.

HART will hold its second Industry Day event next month for Hawaii contractors, construction-related organizations, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms, small businesses and trade unions. HART's goal is to maximize the participation of local companies and organizations in the construction of the rail transit project.  

TRAFFIC ALERT

EWA

Farrington Highway between Kualakai Parkway (North-South Road) and Old Fort Weaver Road is closed in both directions through April. 

WAIPAHU

Both the eastbound and westbound left lanes of Dillingham Boulevard between Laumaka Street and Kaaahi Street and between Kalihi Street and Kokea Street will be closed from Sunday, April 13 to Thursday, April 17 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

DOWNTOWN/KAKAAKO

Both the eastbound and westbound left lanes of Nimitz Highway between River Street and Punchbowl Street will be closed from Sunday, April 13 to Thursday, April 17 between

8:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Both the right eastbound and westbound lane of Halekauwila Street between Richards Street and Cooke Street will be closed from Sunday, April 13 to Thursday, April 17 between 7:30 p.m. and 5 a.m.