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The Honolulu rail system, which will open its first segment to the public in West Oahu at the end of June, has officially been named Skyline. City officials hope that this new name will symbolize a fresh start for the project, which has faced delays, budget overruns, and changes to its original plans.
According to Jon Nouchi, the Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Transportation Services, the rail line never had an official name before. It was commonly referred to as “rail,” but the city wanted a more fitting and positive name. After a five-year effort that involved input from focus groups and the Native Hawaiian community, Skyline was chosen. The name represents the expansive views that riders will experience along the West Oahu corridor.
During the naming process, the city also considered names of existing rail systems in other parts of the country, such as BART in San Francisco, DART in Dallas, and the Metro in Washington, D.C. They discarded options like TheTrain, Hoku, Moku, Kui, Ola, and Ilima. The name “Rail” or “TheRail” were also rejected due to their association with negativity in the public and media perception of the project.
The branding of Skyline will feature the artistic likeness of Honolulu’s official bird, the manu-o-Ku or white fairy tern. This bird, once endangered, has seen its population rebound and will be imprinted on the HOLO card, which riders will use to access the rail system.
The first phase of the rail line, spanning from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, will begin interim passenger operations on June 30. The city assures that the system has undergone extensive testing for safety and reliability and is prepared to accommodate passengers.
The city expects approximately 8,000 to 10,000 riders per day by the end of the year for this initial phase. Subsequent segments from Aloha Stadium to Middle Street and from Middle Street to downtown’s Civic Center area are projected to generate 25,000 and 85,000 riders per day, respectively.
While specific revenue projections for the rail line were not confirmed, it is expected that fares will contribute a significant portion to cover operations and maintenance expenses. The city anticipates that revenue from ridership will surpass historical levels once the effects of COVID-19 on ridership are overcome.
The cost of the Hitachi Rail contract amounts to $54 million per year, while operational costs, including electricity usage, total $75 million annually. Including the city’s bus fleet and other transit options, the total expense for Honolulu’s mass transit system exceeds $400 million.
Although the exact dollar amount from projected rail revenues linked to annual ridership was not provided, city officials are confident that fares will contribute a substantial portion to cover expenses.
Thank you again for your support. We hope this provides valuable information about the Skyline rail system in Honolulu.
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