MAYOR: COURT RULING ON RAIL IS GREAT NEWS

(Thurs., Dec. 27, 2012)—Mayor Peter Carlisle today applauded a federal judge’s ruling that keeps Honolulu’s rail transit project on track by upholding the federal Record of Decision and largely grants the City’s request for a narrow injunction that affects only one portion of the project.

The ruling by U.S. Circuit Judge A. Wallace Tashima remands the case to the Federal Transit Administration, and temporarily enjoins the City from conducting any construction activities and real estate acquisition in the project’s fourth phase, the urban Honolulu portion from Middle Street in Kalihi to Ala Moana Center, where construction was not expected to begin until June 2014.

The ruling specifically provides that all work in the first three project phases may proceed and that engineering, design, geotechnical and other pre-construction work in Phase 4 can continue.

“This ruling is very reasonable, and is essentially what the City asked for,” Carlisle said. “It will allow construction to resume after compliance with the Hawaii Supreme Court decision, while other work will continue. And the City can address remaining issues in a timely manner without undue burden.”

The ruling also directed the plaintiffs and defendants to each bear their own litigation costs.

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Media Contact: Jim Fulton, Mayor’s Office, 768-6928.