HI SCR92

Requests the State Auditor conduct a study comparing the financial costs of elevated rail versus street-level rail (Option 2A) for the Middle Street to Downtown Honolulu portion of the Honolulu rail project.

Cites concerns about the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's lack of transparent cost reporting and inability to generate sufficient funds, with project costs escalating from $5.2 billion (initial) to $6.8 billion (May 2016) to $9.5 billion (December 2016).

Notes experts estimate Option 2A could complete the project four years sooner with savings of $2.9 to $4.2 billion, with street-level systems estimated at $139 million per mile versus $756 million per mile for elevated rail in the city center.

Argues street-level rail would minimize negative impacts to historic areas including the Waterfront, Chinatown, Downtown, and Civic Center, versus the costly and unsightly station structures required for elevated rail.

Requires the State Auditor to submit the study to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the 2018 Regular Session.