1. +
Environmental impact of HART

2. +
Questions and concerns:
 Land use
 Displacements and relocations
 Visual Aesthetics
 Air quality
 Noise and vibration
 Water
 Hazardous waste and materials
 Archaeological, cultural and historic resources

3. +
Land use:
 Approx. 160 acres of existing land use will be converted to
transportation use (this will include 88 acres of farmlands).
 The land being converted is divided as follows:
 42 % agricultural
 35 % public
 18 % commercial
 5 % residential
 “No unavoidable adverse environmental effects are anticipated. “
~ (Table 4-1 Summary of Direct Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures to Avoid, Minimize, or reduce impacts)
http://honolulutransit.org/media/7521/04_part1.pdf

4. +
The proposed rail project will span from Ala Moana Center to Kapolei, a
total distance of 20 miles.

5. +
Displacements and relocations:
 Fully acquired property – 40 properties
 Partially acquired property – 159 properties
 According to the EIS all residents and business owners will be
compensated for displacement. ( in alignment with Federal
Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition
Polices Act. )
 Displacements will consist of:
 20 residences
 67 businesses
 1 church
(Section 4.4)

6. +
Visual Aesthetics :
 Residential and roadway views
will be affected by the rail.
 This will include views for motorists
and home owners alike.
 (The project will block views in
several areas including Mauka
and Makai views i.e. ocean and
mountain views.)
 According to the EIS view
blockage will vary depending on
where you are located along the
rail.
 “The Final EIS Acknowledges…that
unavoidable adverse effects, such
as view blockage, cannot be
mitigated and will be significant in
some areas.”
 Landscaping improvements will
affect street- level views.
(Section 4.8)

7. +
Air Quality:
 The project is said to reduce regional pollutant emissions
between 3.9 and 4.6 %.
 The study area meets national air-quality standards.
 The EIS claims that the project will reduce emissions of green
house gasses and that because no significant air quality impacts
are anticipated that mitigation will not be necessary.
(Section 4.9)

8. +
Noise and Vibration:
 The project will have moderate noise impacts in 8 locations –
no vibration impacts are expected.
 Wheel skirts will be installed to reduce noise.
 The guideway structure will be lined with a special material
designed to absorb noise from the rail.
 Automatic track lubrication devices will be installed for tight-
radius curves in the guideway.
 Designed to reduce wheel squeal on those turns.
(Section 4.10)

9. +
Water:
 5 streams will be affected by the construction of guideway support
columns below the ordinary high water mark.
 Waiawa Stream will receive enhancements such as the establishment
of a water quality basin, ecological restoration, an extension of the
existing culvert and enhancement of floodway capacity.
 There will be some effects to wetlands due to shading from the
guideway.
 There will be an increase in stormwater runoff because of
rainwater collecting on impervious surfaces where water was
previously able to absorb into the ground.
 No adverse effects to marine waters, groundwater or floodplains is
expected.

10. +
Hazardous waste and materials:
 Sites near the project could be contaminated.
 Contaminates include: Lubricants, hydraulic fluid, cleaning products
(ranging from acids to alkaline to petroleum-based products)
 Properties that are identified as contaminated will be corrected in
accordance with regulations.
 The project plans to lower its impact where possible. They plan to:
 Use non-hazardous materials where possible
 Limit exposure of hazardous materials
 Practice waste minimization
 Recycle waste to the greatest possible extent
(Section 4.12)

11. +
Archaeological, cultural and historic
resources
 There will be adverse effects to 33 historic properties. 4 cultural
resources will also be affected.
 Mitigation will be provided where possible.
 The project will require the demolition of 3 historic buildings
(Section 4.16)

12. +
Map of some of the affected cultural sites
Map Source: EIS Section 4.16