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.
Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
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How to Make US Trains Faster
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Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
How Atlanta Built 7,000 Housing Units in 3 Years
The city’s comprehensive, neighborhood-focused housing strategy focuses on identifying properties and land that can be repurposed for housing and encouraging development in underserved neighborhoods.
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
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Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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