Mayor Mufi Hannemann and other dignitaries break ground on the Middle Street Transit Center.

The city held a groundbreaking ceremony for its transit center at Middle Street and Kamehameha Highway on Sept. 28. The facility will serve as the new headquarters for TheBus.
“This project is significant for two reasons,” Mayor Mufi Hannemann said at the event. “First, it will create jobs in the construction industry at a time when unemployment is very high and help stimulate the local economy. Second, over the longer term, the transit center signifies our commitment to developing our multimodal transportation system.” Hannemann said the Middle Street bus facility would be an integral part of the rail transit station adjacent to that site, joining similar facilities in Mililani and Waianae.

“This is all part of our efforts to improve TheBus service and encourage ridership, while also proceeding with a rail line that will connect Oahu’s urban core,” said Hannemann.

Hannemann added that dedicated tax revenues for Honolulu’s rail transit program rose $12 million more than expected in fiscal year 2009. This trend, combined with the Council on Revenues’ long-term forecast for increased state tax revenues, projects an additional $200 million in transit tax revenues through fiscal year 2023.

“Construction costs for the rail project are coming in lower than expected,” said Hannemann. “Potentially lower costs and a higher revenue forecast are promising signs as we prepare to break ground for rail transit this year.”

The Middle Street Transit Center is one of several projects completed or planned for the Middle Street Intermodal Center, located at the intersection of Middle and Kamehameha Highway.

The transit center will include bays for staging buses and an expanded transit center to replace the existing bus service center. The passenger platform will have electronic information boards identifying departing and arriving buses, a customer service center, two restroom buildings, a utility building and security office. One section of the center will be used to connect to the future rapid transit station. All of the facilities will be under a covered canopy with landscaping in the center of the platform.

“This is a beneficial project that will help Hawaii, help Honolulu,” said Wayne Yoshioka, director of the city Department of Transportation Services. “It’s certainly a stimulus that we need for the economy right

According to the city, the cost of the Middle Street project is $8.238 million. Its completion date is estimated to be October 2010.

T. Iida Contracting was awarded the construction job. The prime consultant for design is Urban Works, with subconsultants including SSFM International, Nakamura Oyama & Associates, Notkin Hawaii, and Masa Fujioka & Associates.