FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE                                                                           
August 24, 2007

Release No. M-83-07

CITY AWARDS PB AMERICAS

ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT CONTRACT

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced today that the City and County of Honolulu has selected the planning and engineering firm of PB Americas, Inc., as the general engineering consultant for the next phase of work on Honolulu’s mass transit system, or the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project.

            The two-and-a-half year contract awarded to PB Americas covers preparation of the mass transit project’s environmental impact statement (EIS) and completion of preliminary engineering, both required by the federal government to qualify for substantial funding.

            Mayor Hannemann said, “PB Americas has assisted on many transportation projects here in Hawaii, including previous attempts aimed at developing a mass transit system in Honolulu.  With the awarding of this contract, we’ll move quickly into the next phase of work for the project, and I remain confident that we’ll be able to keep our ambitious goal of breaking ground for mass transit in 2009.”

            Selection of the general engineering consultant was made from two firms deemed well-qualified by the selection panel responsible for awarding this contract.  In accordance with state procurement requirements, a five-member selection panel was convened.  Members included three City civil service employees and two private citizens, who concluded that PB Americas was the best-qualified applicant.

            The EIS will cover the entire 34-mile route, stretching from West Kapolei to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, including a spur to Waikiki.  The preparation of the EIS for the entire length is expected to cost $7 million.  The initial segment of the system is a shorter, 20-mile route that extends from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center and reflects a construction schedule in line with projected funding for mass transit.  Conducting an EIS for the entire route will allow the City to move forward with construction quickly, if and when additional revenue becomes available.

            Hannemann emphasized that the major part of the contract is the actual engineering design, not the continuation of planning or additional studies of new alternatives.

            A total of $79 million has been allocated in the contract to produce and manage the engineering work that moves the project closer to construction.  That figure includes $9 million for technology and vehicle selection; $2 million for rights-of-way assessment; $3 million for public outreach; $12 million for project control; and $53 million for engineering design.  The latter figure includes $9 million for architectural design; $31 million for civil and track design; $7 million for structural design; and $6 million for mechanical and electrical design.

            He said, “We’ve waited for mass transit for a long time.  With the execution of this contract, we’re moving the project from study to reality.”

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Contact:

Bill Brennan, 527-6928