Hitachi Rail, the City and County of Honolulu, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), and the City’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS), have announced the opening of Segment 2 of Skyline – the first fully autonomous, urban light railway system in the US.
The opening also marks the launch of four new stations – Makalapa Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Lelepaua Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Ahua Lagoon Drive, and Kahauiki Kalihi Transit Center – expanding the reach of Skyline and offering connectivity for residents and visitors alike.
Each of the new stations was developed to serve as a strategic connection to key destinations across the city – with Makalapa Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Station serving as a centre for the Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hickam Air Force Base and Salt Lake; Lelepaua Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Station providing a new direct connection to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Kahauiki Middle Street Transit Center Station will serving as a vital transit hub for a plethora of potential connections.
A grand opening ceremony was held at Kahauiki Middle Street Transit Center Station to commemorate the opening of the new Segment, and featured an inaugural train ride from Halawa Aloha Stadium Station all the way through the new Segment 2 stations.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said:Today marks another milestone in Skyline’s revolutionary impact on Oahu. Residents and visitors will now be able to reach the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, two major destinations that serve as powerful economic, employment, and transportation drivers.
Meanwhile, each additional Skyline segment unlocks incredible opportunities to address Oʻahu’s housing shortage. The City’s Transit Oriented Development plan will pay exponential dividends by creating housing for our residents at strategic locations along the rail line.
Skyline is an investment in the future of the City and County of Honolulu and will prove itself to be a game changer for this island over the long term. It has taken bold vision, leadership, and dedication to get Skyline to this point, and it will require those same qualities to complete the task of moving Oahu into the future.
Passenger services on Segment 2 will begin today (16 October), with free public ride days planned for 18 & 19 October. Segment 3 is now expected to be complete by 2031 and feature a total of six additional stations, connecting Oahu’s west side corridor to downtown Honolulu.
