The RFP will be issued early next week by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), which is working with consultancy HDR, for advisors to assist in the feasibility of utilizing a P3 for completion of construction, long-term operations and maintenance of the 20-mile line.
Under the terms of the proposals, the Honolulu Rapid Transit Project (HRTP) is being delivered as an automated, elevated transit line capable of moving over 100,000 daily riders between Kapolei on the western side of O’ahu via the Honolulu International Airport and Pearl Harbor.
It will continue through downtown Honolulu and Ala Moana, and eventually to Waikiki Beach and the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.
The selected consultant will work with HDR and HART staff over the next few months evaluating options for project delivery through a P3 for financing, designing, building, operating and maintaining the rail system, and potentially incorporating real estate development opportunities along the route and at key station locations.
Firms and consultants with US and international experience in assessing P3 potential and providing financial, technical and legal advisory services are invited to review the RFP and tender a proposal for this engagement.
Andy Robbins, newly appointed CEO of HART, and Michael Schneider, managing principal at global infrastructure leader HDR, said: “HART anticipates bringing aboard a world-class consultant to assist our integrated staff in examining whether application of a public-private partnership model could bring potential benefit to the project, including acceleration of delivery, economies in construction and operation, and integration with unique opportunities for development along the route and at several of the key station locations.”