Honolulu: Transportation info and development

[Maksima]

Woman claims car hit by debris from rail construction

• Video Link

By Manolo Morales
Published: May 1, 2015, 7:52 pm

A Waikele woman says she was driving on the H-1 Freeway when something hit her car.

Naomi Nascimento contacted KHON2 via Report It and says she believes it came from the rail construction site over the H-1.

She says it happened Thursday night as she was driving home, and while she wasn’t hurt, she’s worried that it could happen again with tragic results.

It happened right underneath a massive structure above the H-1, called a balanced cantilever. Drivers have raised safety concerns about the structure before.

Copyright 2015 KHON2. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://khon2.com/2015/05/01/woman-cl...-construction/

[eleven=11]

hey Maksima stop with the good stuff not. dont stop.

[Maksima]

Lawmakers send bills on rail tax, Turtle Bay, Alii Place for final floor vote

By Web Staff
Published: May 2, 2015, 9:14 am
Updated: May 2, 2015, 10:40 am

House and Senate conferees agreed on Friday to advance bills relating to the extension of the general excise tax for rail, the purchase of Turtle Bay lands for conservation and the purchase of Alii Place.

If the bills pass both houses, they will be forwarded to the Governor for his signature, veto, or passage without his signature.

Copyright 2015 KHON2. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://khon2.com/2015/05/02/lawmaker...al-floor-vote/

[Maksima]

Someone had asked me about the SuperFerry, I realized I forgot that this was mentioned back in April...

Senate wants state DOT to explore ferry system

• Video Link

By Kristine Uyeno
Published: April 10, 2015, 6:09 pm

Could a ferry system return to the islands?

That’s what senators want the state to explore. Lawmakers passed Senate Resolution 116 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 181 asking the Department of Transportation to study the ferry’s feasibility.

There are different types of systems that could be looked at, they say, including ones on the Mainland and in other countries.

“I mean it makes good sense, we’re an island state surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and we have no viable water transportation system,” said Sen. Michelle Kidani, D-Mililani, Waipio Gentry, Waikele.

Kidani introduced the resolutions, asking the state to take a closer look at a ferry system. The DOT would look at viability, cost and design, among a slew of other details.

Copyright 2015 KHON2. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://khon2.com/2015/04/10/senate-w...-ferry-system/

Senate OKs measures to study possible state ferry
Cheaper options for travel are needed, the bills’ sponsor says

By Cathy Bussewitz / Associated Press
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 12, 2015
LAST UPDATED: 01:54 a.m. HST, Apr 12, 2015

Hawaii senators are asking the state to explore whether it's time to take another swing at creating a statewide interisland ferry system.

The Senate passed a pair of resolutions Thursday asking the state Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of building a system inspired by Washington state.

"We are an island state surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. It just makes sense," said Sen. Michelle Kidani (D, Mililani-Waikele-Kunia), who introduced the resolutions.

Kidani wants to encourage cheaper options for interisland travel, and she said that airlines no longer offer discounted fares to local passengers who buy in bulk. These days, if a local family of six wants to visit a neighbor island, they're looking at $1,000 to $1,200 in airfare alone, she said.

Copyright 2015 Star Advertiser. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/2...l?id=299483871

[Maksima]

Lawmakers send bills on rail tax, Turtle Bay, Alii Place for final floor vote

By Web Staff
Published: May 2, 2015, 9:14 am
Updated: May 2, 2015, 10:40 am

House and Senate conferees agreed on Friday to advance bills relating to the extension of the general excise tax for rail, the purchase of Turtle Bay lands for conservation and the purchase of Alii Place.

If the bills pass both houses, they will be forwarded to the Governor for his signature, veto, or passage without his signature.

Copyright 2015 KHON2. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://khon2.com/2015/05/02/lawmaker...al-floor-vote/

[Maksima]

Council Chair: No ‘Easy Sell’ for Honolulu Rail Tax
Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin says better project oversight and more transparency will be needed if city is to approve a GET extension.

MAY 5, 2015
By NICK GRUBE

Don’t be fooled by Tuesday’s vote at the State Capitol on an extension of Honolulu’s rail tax. The issue is a long way from being settled.

Before the tax can be implemented it must get past Gov. David Ige’s veto pen and then be approved by the Honolulu City Council.

It’s the latter that might prove most difficult.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin says he and his colleagues still have a lot of concerns about the lack of accountability and financial transparency surrounding the $6 billion project. Mayor Kirk Caldwell should not expect a rubber stamp of legislative approval.

“It would be disingenuous for the mayor to think the council will be an easy sell,” Martin told Civil Beat in a phone interview Monday. “I think it will be just as difficult, if not more difficult, than the process he encountered at the Legislature.”

Copyright 2015 Civil Beat. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.civilbeat.com/2015/05/cou...lulu-rail-tax/

[Maksima]

Rail tax increase heads to Ige's desk

• Video Link

UPDATED 8:12 PM HST May 05, 2015
By Andrew Pereira

HONOLULU —State lawmakers in the House and Senate approved a five-year extension of Oahu’s rail tax Tuesday and sent the controversial bill (HB134 HD1 SD2 CD1) to Gov. David Ige’s desk. The governor must now decide whether he’ll sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it.

Nearly 80 percent of Capitol lawmakers voted to extend Oahu’s half-percent rail tax until the end of 2027. There were just four "no" votes in the Senate, and 12 "no" votes in the House. Even a majority of House Republicans supported the increase, including Rep. Bob McDermott, who many colleagues consider a fiscal hawk.

Copyright 2015 KITV4. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.kitv.com/news/Rail-tax-in...-desk/32832632

Lawmakers pass bill to extend rail tax for 5 years

By Marcel Honoré
POSTED: 03:58 p.m. HST, May 05, 2015
LAST UPDATED: 07:02 p.m. HST, May 05, 2015

The Hawaii state Legislature has approved a five-year extension of Oahu’s rail tax surcharge, sending a bill to Gov. David Ige that aims to complete the largest public works project in the state’s history.

House Bill 134 would generate some $1.8 billion in additional rail funding from Oahu’s 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge by allowing it to expire in 2027 instead of 2022. Transit leaders say that’s more than enough for the project to climb out of a budget hole that could be as deep as $910 million — plus it would provide a large contingency to address any problems in the future.

Copyright 2015 Star Advertiser. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/b...l?id=302692911

Honolulu Rail Tax Extension Clears the Legislature
A plan to address a nearly $1 billion shortfall in the state's biggest public works project goes next to the desk of Gov. David Ige.

MAY 5, 2015
By NICK GRUBE AND ANITA HOFSCHNEIDER

The Hawaii Legislature approved a bill that would allow the Honolulu City Council to extend the general excise tax surcharge to fund the city’s rail project which faces a nearly $1 billion shortfall.

House Bill 134 would also allow other counties to levy a half-percent GET surcharge, and gives the state “air rights” above the rail line and its stations.

Despite tough public hearings throughout the session in which lawmakers grilled Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and top transit officials, the measure passed both chambers with strong majorities on Tuesday. The Senate vote was 21-4, and the House vote was 39-12.

House Finance Committee Chairwoman Sylvia Luke voted in favor of the tax, even though she voted against it in 2005.

“I don’t like to make Kirk Caldwell happy,” she said on the House floor to a round of laughter. But Luke said she changed her mind about the bill because not passing the extension “would have significant financial implications that neither the state nor the county could afford.”

Copyright 2015 Civil Beat. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.civilbeat.com/2015/05/hon...e-legislature/

[Maksima]

HART: H1 rail overpass should connect in July

Posted: May 19, 2015 6:36 PM HST
Updated: May 19, 2015 6:48 PM HST
By Mileka Lincoln

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - HART officials say the most dramatic and intensive portion of the first ten miles of their $5.2 billion dollar rail project -- the balanced cantilever overpass -- should connect over the H1/H2 merge in July.

It's a bit of an engineering marvel -- while suspended in air, crews tackle about 16 foot sections of guide way at a time -- each portion weighs roughly 210,000 pounds.

"You have this central pillar and then on top of that on each end you have what's called a traveler form. The name is what it does -- it travels and it forms. It's a sort of yellow, metal piece and rebar gets placed in the side and concrete is poured and when it cures or hardens, then that traveler travels out a little more and then we begin the process again," explained Dan Grabauskas, Hart CEO.

Copyright 2015 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/2...onnect-in-july

[Maksima]

Reality of Rail: Dan Grabauskas of HART discusses rail construction, tax issues

[Most content in linked video] --> http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/clip/11...book-questions

Posted: May 28, 2015 12:09 PM HST
Updated: May 28, 2015 12:14 PM HST

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Dan Grabauskas, executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, returned to Sunrise for an update on the rail project. Among many topics, he addressed the status of the general excise tax extension bill on the governor's desk, businesses affected by construction and the traffic issues that have resulted.

He also took questions submitted to our Facebook page, including what HART has planned for the number of rail cars, stops and the traffic flow in town.

In addition, he showed us a photo of the shell of one of the cars that will arrive in Hawaii in the near future.



Copyright 2015 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Article here: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/2...ion-tax-issues

[Maksima]

Earlier this week...

Colleen Hanabusa will help oversee Oahu's rail mass-transit system

Jun 2, 2015, 7:06am HST

Former congresswoman and state Senate president Colleen Hanabusa will join the board of directors that is overseeing the construction and operation of Oahu's 20-mile, elevated-rail mass-transit system.

Hanabusa will replace Carrie Okinaga on the board of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation later this month. Okinaga is leaving the board to become vice president for legal affairs and general counsel at the University of Hawaii.

Copyright 2015 Pacific Business News. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/b...rail-mass.html

Mayor appoints Colleen Hanabusa to rail project board

• Video Link

By Web Staff
Published: June 1, 2015, 4:12 pm
Updated: June 1, 2015, 7:05 pm

A former congresswoman is joining the board that oversees the city’s multi-billion dollar rail transit project.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell appointed Colleen Hanabusa as the new board member for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

“I am confident that Congresswoman Hanabusa, with her decades of service as an attorney, as Hawaii Senate President, and in Congress, will closely monitor HART’s spending and safeguard taxpayer money,” the mayor said. “Being from Waianae, she knows how badly west side residents need this alternative to sitting in some of the worst traffic in the entire nation every day.

Copyright 2015 KHON2. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://khon2.com/2015/06/01/mayor-ap...project-board/

[Maksima]

Then last week this issue came about...

Former councilman to pay fine over illegal gifts

Posted: May 28, 2015 7:18 AM HST
Updated: May 28, 2015 7:18 AM HST

HONOLULU (AP) - Former City Councilman Nestor Garcia has made an agreement with the Honolulu Ethics Commission that may affect the future of the city's $5.8 billion rail transit project.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports the commission announced Wednesday that Garcia agreed to pay $8,100 to settle allegations that he accepted illegal gifts and failed to report them.

Copyright 2015 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/2...-illegal-gifts

+++++++++++

Hawaii Reporter expands on this....

Former Council Chair Nestor Garcia Fined $6,500 - Largest Fine in City's History - for Failure to Disclose Conflicts of Interest on Rail Project

“He (Honolulu Council Member Nestor Garcia) failed to file conflict of interest disclosures for 38 rail transit bills and resolutions and for 14 other matters such as rezoning from agriculture to commercial and residential uses around Kapolei.” - Honolulu Ethics Commission, July 2, 2012

BY MALIA ZIMMERMAN - Honolulu City Council Member Nestor Garcia at one time had considerable power and influence over the 9-member Honolulu City Council, a legislative body that makes key decisions impacting Oahu’s 1.2 million people.

He served as transportation chair when the most important debates took place on whether the city council would support a 20-mile, elevated steel on steel rail project at a cost of $5 billion or if other less costly alternative transportation methods would be selected, and for six months afterward from December 2010 to June 2011, he was the chair of the entire council.

But Garcia’s reputation and upward career track took a hit on March 24, 2011, when KITV News reported Garcia was serving as a board member and executive director of Board membership of the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce, an organization that was advocating for the rail and whose members were pro-rail companies that would benefit financially from the project he was pushing and approving while on the council. In addition, Garcia was being paid $60,000 a year for the Chamber job - more than the $58,596 he was paid annually for the city council position. In addition to his city council salary, and funding from the Kapolei chamber, Garcia receives $30,000 from Dura Construction for his work as a safety officer. That was a combined annual salary of nearly $150,000.

Copyright 2015 Hawaii Reporter. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/former...n-rail-project

+++++++++

It's getting hard for me to post these. I have this habit of reading comments and it's just depressing.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by Maksima

Then last week this issue came about...

Read article here: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/2...-illegal-gifts

+++++++++++

Hawaii Reporter expands on this....



Read article here: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/former...n-rail-project

+++++++++

It's getting hard for me to post these. I have this habit of reading comments and it's just depressing.

The mud is flying, is any of it sticking?
Why is it a conflict of interest to be a member of the city council and chamber of commerce at the same time? More bothersome is being a safety officer for a construction company - but was that construction company involved with the rail line at that time? I don't think so.
Much ado about nothing if you ask me....if anything, these revelations show he was better qualified to talk about bringing trains to Honolulu.

[Maksima]

Hawaiian Dredging wins contract to build three rail stations in Waipahu

By Web Staff
Published: June 10, 2015, 4:59 pm
Updated: June 10, 2015, 5:03 pm

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awarded Wednesday a construction contract to Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company to build three rail stations in Waipahu.

Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company received a $78.9 million contract for the Farrington Highway station group, consisting of the West Loch, Waipahu Transit Center and Leeward Community College stations.

Bids for the station group contract were opened in March. Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company was the apparent low bidder. The second-lowest bidder filed a bid protest that was denied by HART. That company then filed an appeal in April with the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). The DCCA ruled in HART’s favor on May 28. These challenges delayed the award by about three months.

Copyright 2015 KHON2. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://khon2.com/2015/06/10/hawaiian...ns-in-waipahu/

HART awards construction contract for Waipahu rail stations

Posted: Jun 10, 2015 10:35 AM HST
Updated: Jun 10, 2015 10:39 AM HST
By HNN Staff

WAIPAHU, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awarded a $78.9 million contract on Wednesday to the Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company to build three rail stations in the Waipahu area.

The company will be responsible for the Farrington Highway station group, consisting of the West Loch, Waipahu Transit Center and Leeward Community College stations.

Bids for the station group contract were opened in March with the Hawaiian Dredging Construction as the lowest bidder, but still higher than city estimates.

Copyright 2015 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/2...-rail-stations

Hawaiian Dredging Construction awarded $79M contract to build Honolulu rail stations

Jun 10, 2015, 4:53pm HST
Duane Shimogawa
Pacific Business News

Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. was awarded a $78.9 million contract to build three rail stations in the Waipahu area for the multi-billion dollar Honolulu rail transit project, the city agency overseeing the project said Wednesday.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said the contract for the Farrington Highway station group involves the West Loch, Waipahu Transit Center and Leeward Community College stations.

Bids for the station group contract were opened in March. Hawaiian Dredging was the apparent low bidder, but the second-lowest bidder, Nan Inc., filed a bid protest that was denied by HART.

Copyright 2015 Pacific Business News. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/n...arded-79m.html

[Maksima]

Progress made on rail guideway over H-1 Freeway, but work continues

Posted: Jun 15, 2015 9:03 AM HST
Updated: Jun 15, 2015 9:54 AM HST

PEARL CITY, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu rail crews have connected two major sections of the concrete guideway over the H-1 Freeway near the H-1 / H-2 split.

The original sections of the guideway that are supported by the balanced cantilevers are now connected, but work continues to build out the guideway on each end towards the Waipahu route on Farrington Highway and along Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City. Rail officials say the work to finish the guideway across this stretch of the H-1 Freeway will continue into 2016.

Copyright 2015 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/2...work-continues

[Maksima]

HART opens bids for West Oahu station group construction contract

• Video Link

By Gina Mangieri and Web Staff
Published: June 16, 2015, 2:42 pm
Updated: June 16, 2015, 10:58 pm

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation opened contract bids for the West Oahu station group Tuesday.

The group consists of the East Kapolei, UH-West Oahu and Hoopili stations.

The contract, which has yet to be awarded, will likely go to the lowest bidder, Nan Inc., which is fresh off a failed protest for the previous rail contract to build three rail stations in Waipahu.

Bidder -------------------------- Total of all bid items (from lowest to highest)
Nan Inc. --------------------------------------- $56,088,470
Watts Constructors --------------------------- $66,543,692
Hensel Phelps --------------------------------- $67,234,000
Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. -------- $73,400,000

Copyright 2015 KHON2. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://khon2.com/2015/06/16/hart-ope...tion-contract/

New bids for rail stations come in below estimates


COURTESY SCOTT ISHIKAWA / HONOLULU RAIL TRANSIT
The artist rendering above shows the future rail stop at Honolulu Airport, which will be between the international and overseas parking structures.

By Marcel Honoré
POSTED: 3:14 p.m. HST, Jun 16, 2015
LAST UPDATED: 3:29 p.m. HST, Jun 16, 2015

The latest bids opened to build stations along Oahu’s rail line have come in more favorably than the previous group of bids that were opened about three months ago.

On Tuesday, rail officials opened bids from four companies vying to build the three western-most stations along the line, at East Kapolei, UH West Oahu and Hoopili.

They had estimated that the work would cost between $65 and $80 million.

The lowest bid, from Nan, Inc., came in at $56.1 million.

The highest, from Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co., came in at $73.4 million.

Firms Hensel Phelps and Watts Constructors also submitted bids, at $67.2 million and $66.5 million, respectively.

Copyright 2015 Star Advertiser. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/b...l?id=307742811

HART unveils latest station bids

Posted: Jun 16, 2015 7:19 PM HST
Updated: Jun 16, 2015 7:38 PM HST
By Rick Daysog

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - After the construction costs soared by 60 percent last year, rail officials said they now have a better handle on their spending.

"We feel pretty good about what we've seen today ... most of the bids were clustered at the low end," said Dan Grabauskas, CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation

On Tuesday, rail officials unveiled the names of bidders vying to build the rail system's East Kapolei, UH West Oahu and Hoopili stations.

Copyright 2015 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/2...t-station-bids

[Maksima]

A Ray of Hope for Honolulu Rail?

For the first time in quite awhile, bids came in lower than estimated, a welcome sign for officials building the largest public works project in Hawaii’s history.

JUNE 16, 2015
By NICK GRUBE

Honolulu’s $6 billion rail project received a slight dose of positive news Tuesday when officials opened bids for construction of three stations on the west side of Oahu.

The lowest bidder came in with a price less than anticipated, and all other offers were within the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s target range $65 million to $80 million.

“It’s good news,” HART Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas said as he stared at the numbers projected on a screen inside the agency’s offices, where the bid opening occurred. “It’s very good news.”

Nan, Inc. is the apparent low bidder to build the three stations at East Kapolei, the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and Hoopili, a recently approved subdivision. The company’s bid came in at just over $56 million, which is $10 million less than the next lowest offer.

HART must review Nan’s proposal before a contract is signed. Other companies also can protest the bid, which might cause a delay in awarding the contract. If Nan’s bid holds up, however, it could signal a positive change for HART.

Copyright 2015 Civil Beat. All rights reserved.

Read article here:http://www.civilbeat.com/2015/06/a-r...honolulu-rail/

[Maksima]

Council member wants public, private employers to help ease rail traffic

• Video Link

UPDATED 10:46 PM HST Jun 17, 2015
By Andrew Pereira

HONOLULU —The city's rail project won't be running for several years, and that’s causing plenty of pain for residents in Aiea, Pearl City and Waipahu who have been dealing with rush hour gridlock for months now.

"It's got to a point where it's become very long in terms of the wait times for residents commuting back and forth from home and work," said City Councilman Brandon Elefante, who represents many of the areas affected by rail construction.

Hoping to ease some of the congestion through Farrington Highway and Kamehameha Highway, Elefante has introduced a resolution (15-163) that asks public and private employers to offer their workers flex time.

Copyright 2015 KITV4. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://www.kitv.com/news/council-mem...affic/33644848

[Maksima]

Civil Beats Latest:

Rail’s Deep Black Hole: Digging Out One Shovelful at a Time
The need for enormous, ongoing subsidies for rail is daunting, but new bids for three rail stations show that HART can cut costs when it tries.

JUNE 19, 2015
By THE CIVIL BEAT EDITORIAL BOARD

We learned a bit more over the past week about Honolulu’s beleaguered $6 billion rail project, and for a change, a spoonful of good news was mixed in with a healthy helping of bad.

First, the bad news. As Civil Beat’s Nick Grube and Bob Porterfield reported in an analysis published June 11, budget projections from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation show that in the first 12 years, costs for operation and maintenance will total more than $1.7 billion. Fare revenue will cover less than one-third of those costs, leaving an annual O&M deficit of about $100 million a year.

While O&M deficits of that magnitude may be news to Civil Beat and its readers, they’re apparently not to HART, city leaders or others close to the project. The city’s transportation services director is said to be devising a plan to address those costs, but issues such as the lack of clarity around fare pricing and other potential revenue sources (advertising and station naming rights, for instance) have to be addressed first.

Copyright 2015 Civil Beat. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://www.civilbeat.com/2015/06/rai...ful-at-a-time/

[Maksima]

HART reports rail-related jobs, local hires continue to increase

By Web Staff
Published: June 17, 2015, 1:38 pm
Updated: June 17, 2015, 1:41 pm

he number of jobs directly related to the Honolulu rail transit project continues to grow, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) said Wednesday.

The number of rail jobs in the first quarter of 2015 grew to 1,427, as compared to 1,365 jobs during last quarter of 2014, HART said.

The quarterly job count includes current contractors Kiewit, Ansaldo Honolulu JV, Nan Inc, various architectural firms working for the project, along with HART staff.

Copyright 2015 KHON2. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://khon2.com/2015/06/17/hart-rep...e-to-increase/

[Maksima]

Hopfully this will be good news...

Japan’s Hitachi will move to final phase of Ansaldo acquisition this fall

Jun 22, 2015, 7:18am HST

Japan’s Hitachi expects to move into the final phase by the end of October on its acquisition of the Italian rail car maker Ansaldo, which has a $1.4 billion contract to build and operate the driverless cars for Honolulu’s rail transit system.

Hitachi is acquiring the rail car-making unit AnsaldoBreda and rail signaling unit Ansaldo STS from Italian defense giant Finmeccanica for $2.2 billion.

Copyright 2015 Pacific Business News. All rights reserved.

Read article here: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/b...-phase-of.html