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June 2023

Rail News: Passenger Rail
Honolulu, Los Angeles to roll out new passenger-rail lines

By Julie Sneider, Senior Associate Editor

Trains will begin running in June on two long-awaited passenger-rail lines in Honolulu and Los Angeles. ... On June 30, a fixed guideway and elevated system will begin passenger operations in Honolulu on an 11-mile stretch between the East Kapolei and Aloha Stadium stations. The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services will operate the line, assuming control from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), which is overseeing project construction.

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Construction on the project began in 2011 and has been plagued by repeated delays, cost overruns and executive leadership changes. In October 2022, the Federal Transit Administration approved HART’s recovery plan to complete the project within expected funding levels.

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One-seat ride across L.A. County

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) will open its 1.9-mile Regional Connector light-rail line on June 16. The line will allow trains to travel between Union Station and the 7th Street/Metro Center Station in downtown L.A.’s Financial District.

The $1.8 billion project will make it easier for riders to travel across L.A. County between Azusa and Long Beach, and between East Los Angeles and Santa Monica without transferring lines. The line will improve connections, bringing together the Metro L (Gold), A (Blue), E (Expo), B (Red) and D (Purple) lines at the 7th Street/Metro Center Station, L.A. Metro officials say.

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