Building Industry Magazine - February 2012 - (Page 10)

NewsBeat Rail Project Milestones The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Dec. 29 accepted the Honolulu rail transit project into final design, the final phase of the project’s development before a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) is executed. And on Jan. 9, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) awarded a $38.8 million contract to AECOM Technical Services, Inc. to design the project’s airport section of the elevated rail guideway. “This is great news for Honolulu,” Mayor Peter Carlisle said in December. “Entering into final design also allows us to begin the process of working toward our fullfunding grant agreement with FTA, which solidifies the $1.55 billion in federal funds we expect to receive. We remain on track to complete that process next fall.” As is the case with all projects that progress through the final design process, FTA Regional Administrator Leslie Rogers noted that the Honolulu project’s financial plan will be subject to an even more intensive review before FTA enters into an FFGA with HART. In terms of the AECOM contract, the Fortune 500 firm is responsible for the design of the 5.2-mile portion of the rail from Aloha Stadium to the Middle Street Transit Center. It has received the notice to proceed and is required to complete the design by spring 2013. A separate construction contract will follow. Subcontractors for the contract include locally based KSF Inc. Structural Engineering; Wilson Okamoto Corp.; Yogi Kwon Engineers, LLC; Geolabs, Inc.; Group 70 International, Inc.; PBR Hawaii & Associates, Inc.; Scientific Consultant Services, Inc. and T.Y. Lin Associates. Sand Replenishment Restores Waikiki Beach The state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) held a blessing ceremony on Jan. 4 to begin a three-month project to restore sand to approximately 1,730 feet of shoreline along Waikiki Beach. The project’s objective is to return the beach to its 1985 condition utilizing a state-of-the-art sand blowing technology to transport sand along the beach. It will involve: • recovery of up to 24,000 cubic yards of sand from recovery areas located 1,500 to 3,000 feet offshore in a water depth of about 10 to 20 feet • pumping sand to an onshore dewatering site within the Diamond Head swim basin • transporting the sand with a low pressure pneumatic sand blower, using a small-diameter plastic pipe that is buried underground • placement of sand according to design beach profiles to ensure the right amount of sand is located in the correct sections of beach • removal of two deteriorated groin structures The project requires a 60-day operating window of calm seas, and is therefore scheduled during the winter, which typically has the mildest wind and wave conditions in Waikiki. Healy Tibbitts Builders, Inc., the general contractor, will collect sand using a hydraulic suction dredge barge. Sand pumping was scheduled to begin as early as Jan. 23. The project was made possible through a public and private partnership, with financial support coming from the DLNR’s Beach Fund, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts, LP. “We are very excited about this project and the opportunity to reclaim beach sand that has been lost to erosion. This ‘recycling’ program offers a more efficient method for maintaining a recreational beach while mitigating some of the environmental impacts of imported sand to the Waikiki 10 | BUILDING INDUSTRY | FEBRUARY 2012 ecosystem over the past 60-plus years,” says William J. Aila, Jr., DLNR chairperson. “Waikiki is an icon of Hawaii that has cultural, recreational, and economic significance to both our residents and visitors. It is our responsibility to maintain this world-famous beach and replenish those areas that disappearing due to coastal erosion.” The DLNR project will restore sand from the west end of the Kuhio Beach swim basin, near the Duke Kahanamoku statue, to the area between The Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton Waikiki hotels.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Industry Magazine - February 2012

Cover; Swinerton Builders at the new Walgreens project
Datebook
CAK Annual Meeting Highlights Service
Andaz Renovation Begins
Forest City Completed Oahu’s Largest Solar Farm
Sand Replenishment Restores Waikiki Beach
Elephants Get New Home at Honolulu Zoo
Contracts Awarded
Best Practices
FEATURE Commercial/Retail
Spotlight on Success: Child Development Center
FREATUE Hawaii’s top roofers
Solar Energy Fuels Maui Arts Center
FEATURE Exterior finishes
Low Bids
Concept to Completion: The Cole Academy, Kapolei
FEATURE Energy efficiency

Building Industry Magazine - February 2012