HI HCR81

Requests U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the Federal Transit Administration to initiate a performance review under the 2024 Amended Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project to assess whether satisfactory progress is being made.

The Honolulu Rail Transit Project, Hawaii's most expensive publicly funded project, has experienced significant cost overruns and delays, with an estimated completion date of 2030 at a cost of $12.45 billion compared to the original 2020 completion date and $5.5 billion budget.

The State of Hawaii has provided $3.9 billion in additional funding through legislation passed in 2015 ($1.5 billion) and 2017 ($2.4 billion) via general excise tax surcharge set to expire in 2030.

The resolution cites the Federal Railroad Administration's compliance review of the California High-Speed Rail Project in February 2025 as precedent for similar federal oversight of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project due to comparable funding shortfalls and delays.

Directs transmission of certified copies to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, the Federal Transit Administration, Hill International Inc. (project management oversight consultant), and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation leadership.