Council Action Clears Path to Rail Groundbreaking

The vote was unanimous among all Council members who were present for the vote – 8 to 0 in favor of granting a Special Management Area (SMA) permit to the Honolulu rail project. One member was absent.

Despite reservations and even firm objections to building rail by a minority of Council members, those opinions did not carry over to the vote on the final major Council action required for the project to proceed, which is now expected to break ground by March.

SMA permits are required for certain kinds of alternations and developments within areas designated by the State's Coastal Zone Management Program.

About 1.6 miles of Honolulu rail’s 20-mile route will be within the coastal management area (see details on above map) as defined by Oahu ordinance.