On August 24, 2012, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the city needed to complete an archaelogical survey of the entire rail system route before construction work could resume. After discussing the matter internally, city officials announced that this delay would halt rail construction for approximately nine months and work would hopefully resume in the late spring or early summer of 2013. While executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation Daniel Grabauskas has not announced how much the delay would cost taxpayers, it was previously estimated that each month of delay would be between $7 million to $10 million. So far, the city of Honolulu has already paid contractors $22 million in fees due to previous scheduling delays.
Opponents to the rail project believe that the nine months stated by city officials is extremely optimistic and point out that the city has to dig trenches on private property for their archaeological survey. Even if one of these property owners resists and fights the city in court, it could take several more months before the city could gain access to the land. Furthermore, if a burial site is found, it could take another three to six months for the Oahu Island Burial Council to decide how to best handle the remains. The Oahu Island Burial Council could either leave the remains in place, move them out of the way, or force the rail project to make changes to avoid the burial site.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-14-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
