The third phase of the project will expand service to downtown Honolulu on the ‘nation’s first large-scale, publicly run automated metro system.’

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) announced a $1.66 billion contract to enhance its rail system, popularly known as the Skyline, the “first large-scale, publicly run automated metro system in the U.S.,” reports Jon Turi in The Cool Down.
“The initial phase completed in June 2023 already offers 20 four-car vehicles made by Hitachi Rail that can accommodate around 800 riders each. They're ADA-compliant, air-conditioned, and have bike, luggage, and, of course, surfboard storage areas.” The third phase of the project will, over the next five years, connect existing lines to downtown Honolulu.
The electric system is part of Hawaii’s strategy to switch to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. The platforms feature protective platform screen doors that keep riders away from tracks, and the trains include bike and surfboard storage areas.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

Honolulu's Iwilei Center Plans for Redevelopment Into Mixed-Use Space
Striving to expand affordable housing options for Oahu residents, Honolulu's Department of Land Management requests to redevelop the Iwilei Center into a mixed-use space.

Biketown Lives
Despite public perception of its decline, Portland’s bike share system is alive and well.

‘Stockholm Tree Pit’ Saves Dying Urban Trees
After noticing that two-thirds of its trees were dying, Stockholm developed a new planting method to protect trees surrounded by concrete.
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