NEW CEO ROBBINS MAKES FIRST ADDRESS TO HART's BOARD OF DIRECTORS
New HART CEO Andrew Robbins addresses
HART's Board of Directors
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's new CEO Andrew Robbins recently attended his first HART Board of Directors meeting since taking over the helm of the Honolulu Rail Project back on September 5. Robbins addressed the Board and touched upon a
number of subjects including the positive opportunities he sees ahead for the Project.
Robbins thanked HART's Interim CEO Krishniah Murthy and acknowledged the fact that Murthy agreed to take the lead of the project during, arguably, it's most difficult and challenging period. Having been associated with the Rail Project in the past, Robbins told the Board he noticed many positive changes at HART put in place during Murthy's tenure. He said the Project is now on a more productive path because of Murthy's leadership touting specifically HART's overall safety record, noting it to be "well above the national average."
Robbins also expressed his gratitude to state and city elected officials. He praised their efforts in forging an agreement that allows HART to complete its minimum operable segment from East Kapolei to Ala Moana, as originally agreed upon by the City & County of Honolulu and the Federal Transit Administration.
Despite the many positives Robbins noticed in the project, he also told the Board that we still "need to step up our game." Robbins said the public is counting on HART to deliver a quality project and that HART needs to be "creative
HART CEO Andrew Robbins inspects the Rail Projects Operations Center in Waipahu. From left to right: Ansaldo Honolulu JV Sr. Manager Enrico Fontana, Project Director Sam Carnaggio, CEO Robbins, and HART's Chief Safety & Security Officer Ralph McKinney.
and innovative" in seizing on the "opportunities that lie ahead" during construction. Among those are the so-called P-3 possibilities, or public/private partnerships, that could provide viable and beneficial options for the project in the months ahead.
Robbins also told the Board that since moving back to Hawaii, he's come across many people who see the Rail Project as an overwhelmingly positive for both our residents and visitors. He noted that a recent rail car open house drew upwards of 1,500 people to HART's Rail Operations Center in Waipahu. He added that Honolulu's Rail Project "provides a tremendous opportunity to make positive impacts not only on the communities along the transit route but on the entire state as well."
HART ON CAMPUS!
Members of the HART Team, Kashmira Reid (far right) and Pat Lee (far left) visit with members of Campbell High School's Historical Society.
The HART Team is proud to have been invited to a pair of on-campus events this week, both on the west side of Oahu.
First up, the HART Team joined members of the Campbell High School Historical Society for a question and answer session about the Honolulu Rail Project.
Students there are excited about the prospect of rail adding to their community. They asked insightful questions and the HART Team was honored to meet with club members.
READ THE LATEST PROGRESS REPORT ON THE HONOLULU RAIL PROJECT
Each month, the HART Board of Directors is presented with a comprehensive report on the current status of the rail project. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation believes it is essential to keep the public up-to-date on the project. Therefore, each monthly report is open for public review.
number of subjects including the positive opportunities he sees ahead for the Project.
Students there are excited about the prospect of rail adding to their community. They asked insightful questions and the HART Team was honored to meet with club members.
