Council Members to Investigate Rail Contractor
Honolulu Transportation Committee leaders Breene Harimoto and Ernie Martin are planning a trip to a number of cities that have done business with AnsaldoBreda, the company that Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle on Monday announced would get a $574 million rail contract with the city.
Civil Beat reported Monday that officials in multiple cities have complained about the company, calling it unreliable. Los Angeles pulled its contract with the company.
Harimoto said accounts from other cities inspired him to organize a fact-finding mission.
“There were issues with this contractor,” Harimoto told Civil Beat. “With any large contractor, you will find there are issues reported in the press. That’s a given. But to do our due diligence, and perform our fiduciary responsibility, we need to investigate.”
By limiting the trip to two council members, they would be allowed to discuss their findings during the trip without breaking sunshine laws.
