[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6282747,"mediaKeyId","2592569-dc19ee932550a5398c5dcdcb06642bc5","parentId",2592569,"title","City transportation department seeks $487.6 million budget as rail operating costs and transit modernization rise","audioSeconds",822,"startMs",3204000,"endMs",4026000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2592569-dc19ee932550a5398c5dcdcb06642bc5&start=3204&end=4026","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2592569-dc19ee932550a5398c5dcdcb06642bc5/thumbnail_3204000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6282747/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/City-transportation-department-seeks-4876-million-budget-as-rail-operating-costs-and-transit-modernization-rise","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6282747-ffdca07b46236b1c5115d81a047054ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138981&Signature=nunRQXOUyxp~aiHlQB37aAIVIGg4JLzd9V5ZU8f86FRMQTywZw2pyhshiezNP1O-VCjoWDoO~DM7K4FY3h0NAYLfWbny0q4CFRU6nsXGFVIidTg5sXqzajpQIC~GT66R~EeHrrE25XKlAQArjdfWAzu833GOYC06XMGKrXvRnYmLFdo9W7h0a7QB9hH~-iViHKbQvDxYAetOALqEybRGkzel8SPtfpQ3y9I4VbajcK0qpMby8OnwTWnHDmWOQ6uM2hmgVsVVcR~Yj1knvxtXjicYauk5ofAkU1RM-EVnDyrIrvNpLh8ZZKFzInnP~aPU8EuQ8966-WoYKJUloxbefw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Honolulu, HI","date","2025-03-08T05:18:44Z","article","Roger Morton, director of the Department of Transportation Services (DTS), told the Budget Committee the department’s combined budget (DTS plus operating partners) is $487,561,540 and includes a substantial increase in Skyline operating costs tied to adding stations, trains and longer service hours. Morton said the Skyline operations budget rises from about $89 million to roughly $120.7 million — \"that's a 35% increase,\" he said — driven by additional service hours, more trains and associated increases in security, elevators/escalators maintenance and electricity costs.

Why it matters: The DTS budget funds daily operations of bus service and handivan operations run by the city's contractor (OTS), transit fleet replacement, traffic-signal infrastructure, and near-term readiness costs for an expanded Skyline service. The committee questioned staffing, capital timing, and program details that affect street-level safety, accessibility and service reliability.

Key operating and staffing details: Morton said DTS has roughly 889 funded positions with about 45 vacancies and expects to fill 33 hires by the end of the fiscal year. He described the department as small in head count but large in operational scope because it manages contracting with operators and multiple service lines. Morton said passenger revenue was conservatively budgeted at about $49.7 million for the coming year.

Transit vehicle and capital programs: DTS listed a bus and handivan acquisition program at about $74.2 million to replace vehicles and expand the electric-bus transition. Morton said the city is planning bus charging infrastructure at Middle Street Transit Center and that the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) is funding several related electrification projects. DTS also proposed a multi-year program to replace traffic controllers islandwide, a project Morton said will take roughly four to five years; he said about 85% of the island’s signals are connected today.

Fare modernization and retail/payment services: The department described work to operate and maintain the electronic fare collection system and to add new payment capabilities. Morton said the city intends to add contactless credit-card acceptance as an additional payment media to the existing HoloCard system so riders can tap with credit cards or mobile wallets; he said the system change reduces the need to purchase large quantities of stored-value cards for transient riders. Morton noted that concession fares for seniors or low-income riders will still require vetted HoloCards. He said online credit-card sales currently carry transaction fees and that product pricing for multi-day passes will reflect card-processing costs; Morton said those fees are incorporated into proposed product pricing rather than a separate convenience charge.

Handyvan and human-services coordination: Morton described a $4.0 million line for an agency-provided trips program that subsidizes five social-service providers to transport clients who would otherwise rely on the handyvan. He said the agency arrangement is a cost-saving alternative: waiver-agency trips cost roughly $12–$13 per trip compared with $50–$60 if provided directly by the handyvan.

Traffic signals, cameras and Vision Zero: DTS requested funding to modernize traffic controllers, expand traffic-signal islandwide connectivity, and fund engineering studies for red-light enforcement cameras. Transportation technology chief Tai Fukumitsu said $160,000 in the proposed budget is seed money for engineering assessment to place red-light cameras; he said the state is expanding cameras on state roads and the city may add cameras on city streets but placement requires engineering evaluation. Morton and Complete Streets Administrator Renee Espial discussed Vision Zero work and the city’s Safe Routes to School efforts; Espial said the department estimated between $500,000 and $1,000,000 would be needed to fund a citywide program at scale and that DTS is seeking state Safe Routes to School funds.

Broadband and West Oahu infrastructure: DTS described plans to place fiber and broadband infrastructure on West Oahu as part of trenching and traffic projects. Morton and Tai Fukumitsu said the state will fund an initial design and pay for a portion of the trunk line while DTS will pick up a later segment to extend fiber to Nanakuli and Wai‘anae; DTS is also installing wireless communications on existing towers to support traffic systems.

Public testimony and accessibility concerns: Public testifier Donald Sakamoto, who said he is blind, urged stronger ADA attention on sidewalks and station approaches and warned of accessibility problems in station and vehicle design. Angela Melody Young supported both HART and DTS funding for bus and handyvan operations and urged more efficient scheduling for senior services.

Ending: DTS officials told the committee they can provide a chart of federal/local funding ratios for CIP projects on request and that more detailed project lists and prioritization for controller upgrades, Safe Routes work and other CIP items will be shared with council offices as part of budget follow-ups.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-03-12 Special Budget Briefing PT1","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Transportation Services presented a $487.6 million combined budget that includes higher Skyline operating costs if Segment 2 opens, major bus and handivan vehicle purchases, a traffic-signal modernization program and planning for fare payment modernization.","taxTitle","Honolulu City, Honolulu County, Hawaii","taxId",61746,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6282752,"HART seeks $175 million operating, $794 million capital budgets; officials say Segment 2 transfer likely before year-end, October earliest possible opening",653,362000,1015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2592569-dc19ee932550a5398c5dcdcb06642bc5&start=362&end=1015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2592569-dc19ee932550a5398c5dcdcb06642bc5/thumbnail_362000.jpg","/articles/6282752/Honolulu-City/Honolulu-County/Hawaii/HART-seeks-175-million-operating-794-million-capital-budgets-officials-say-Segment-2-transfer-likely-before-year-end-October-earliest-possible-opening","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6282752-3a4546682795918a6d76a0f2873193dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138981&Signature=Ye0uriSw3QwhDt-4DB91WCbkYdkqER-uyFjDuNKbsUzJv1aswsypCcGPqavebp6FLXU-wDZEpo3KgVZupA1EM9fVWdJSrkJs6TMwGUJQddaTkz6JVyv5uhF9G187t7KzH5rnxJsT2aKJyDUcPqPvIK0ZS8WyTsO40x4aeoBTiKUHP9oCcYmxUy9bFL7gBtgmkRtpDpolWEv8io9vPOoLvJPW0pL1QoHFpxASiUY2~McjVCjsBlf9oJs77E-n0LSdbv~yAwBJ9R8p3RpGPU~53jvSJNAvo2H5xUud~L1wwrw-GWxeoFWdctdUTnhpGKcBKiseEZIwCq0xl~YIFPUL3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laurie Kahikina, CEO and executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), told the Council’s Budget Committee that HART’s proposed fiscal 2026 request includes a $175,000,000 operating budget and a $794,000,000 capital budget and that the agency remains committed to transferring Segment 2 assets to the city \"before the end of the year.\" Kahikina added, \"The earliest we could possibly open is October, so we should budget for that.\"

Why it matters: HART’s budgets and the federal funding tied to construction and opening milestones will determine when the city can begin revenue service on expanded Skyline segments and how quickly construction of City Center Guideway and Stations proceeds. HART said the bulk of the proposed operating request pays bond debt tied to the project.

HART’s request and funding sources: Kahikina told the committee the operating request totals $175 million and that \"97 percent of that is for our debt service expenditures.\" She said principal payments in the coming year total about $129 million and that total labor costs in the operating budget are budgeted at $1.5 million. On capital, she said the request is $794 million and listed primary anticipated funding sources: a projected general excise tax (GET) allocation of about $371 million, a transient accommodations tax (TAT) allocation of about $89.7 million, an Oahu TAT allocation of $57.2 million, and federal funding connected to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA). Kahikina told the committee that HART’s unreserved balance forecast as of June 30, 2025, is approximately $601 million, and that the total cash picture shown in the presentation is about $1.26 billion.

Federal grant milestones: HART has one outstanding FFGA pool originally totaling $744 million. Kahikina said HART and its partners received $375 million in calendar year 2024 after contract progress and that \"what's remaining in the FFGA is $369,000,000.\" She explained how the remaining sum breaks down: $125 million tied to opening Segment 2, $125 million tied to completion of City Center utility relocations (CCR 4 / Dillingham corridor), and roughly $119 million with no milestone identified. Kahikina said the agency will work with FTA on releasing the last tranche once CCR 4 is completed.

Capital projects and schedule: Kahikina said HART has awarded the Tutor Perini contract for the City Center guideway and stations (CCGS) and described that contract as a $1.6 billion package being delivered in multiyear phases; HART asked for $527 million for that package in the coming year. She said Contractor Tudor Perini is already in the field performing borings and potholing and that columns \"should start to come up later this year.\" HART continues to project Segment 3 transfer in a 2030–2031 timeframe. The Pearl Highlands Transit Center and access ramp is in the capital request at $224 million, and Kahikina said the project includes a bus staging area and an H‑2 ramp. HART also put the Waipahu (MacKay) station entrance back into the capital program; Kahikina said updated FEMA flood maps removed a prior design constraint that had required HART to acquire adjacent property, and she said HART hopes to start design in the current fiscal year.

Staffing and expenses: Kahikina told the committee HART has 47 filled city positions, is budgeting to fill an additional 25 positions for a proposed total of 72 authorized FTEs in FY2026 (out of 98 authorized FTEs overall). She said HART capitalizes many positions across capital packages and explained that budgeted labor costs increase partially because of hazard-pay estimates and an updated OPEB calculation that corrected an understatement from the previous year. Kahikina also said board-related expenses were reduced and that the board budget was trimmed after one-time augmentations the prior year.

Public testimony and accessibility: Two members of the public testified before the HART briefing. Donald Sakamoto, who identified himself as president of Citizens for Fair ADA Ride, said he participated in the city audit on accessibility and flagged concerns about station access in later phases. \"I'm worried about the construction of phase 2 and phase 3 of the rail stations and surrounding areas to be more accessible for our ADA persons like myself who's blind and others,\" Sakamoto said, urging closer attention to ADA compliance. Angela Melody Young, a member of the public, testified in support of HART’s budget and urged improvements to bus and handy-van processes that serve seniors and day centers.

Federal funding outlook and FTA relations: Deputies and HART staff told the committee they have discussed forecasts and assumptions with the FTA and the project management oversight contractor and said the FTA has signaled confidence in HART’s recent performance. Deputy Project Director Rick Keen said HART worked with the FTA and the PMOC on recent financial-plan assumptions and that \"we feel pretty solid on the GET and the TAT and the OTAT forecast.\"

What remains unresolved: Kahikina said HART will not know exact transfer and opening timing until after trial running and system demonstration next summer, and she urged the city to budget prudently for an October earliest opening while retaining an end-of-year target. She also said HART will open discussions with FTA about the $119 million not tied to a milestone after CCR 4 completes but cautioned that agencies in Washington may want milestones to justify final disbursements.

Ending: HART presenters closed by offering to provide additional detail to council offices on staffing funded from capital packages, on the Pearl Highlands cost estimate and on other program-level breakdowns. The committee followed with questions about project timing, eminent domain exposure and the plan for using anticipated FTA payments in the upcoming fiscal year.","The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation told the City Council Committee on Budget it expects to transfer Segment 2 assets to the city before the end of the year and is asking for a $175 million operating budget and $794 million in capital appropriations, with most operating dollars committed to debt service.","actionData","errors"]

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City transportation department seeks $487.6 million budget as rail operating costs and transit modernization rise

HART seeks $175 million operating, $794 million capital budgets; officials say Segment 2 transfer likely before year-end, October earliest possible opening