HONOLULU — Big construction projects in Hawaii like the Honolulu rail project could have an easier time moving forward under a new law signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
HONOLULU — Big construction projects in Hawaii like the Honolulu rail project could have an easier time moving forward under a new law signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
Abercrombie signed a bill last week to allow the State Historic Preservation Division to approve state projects in phases rather than all at once, depending on circumstances.
The bill is in response to a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling last year that forced Honolulu to stop development on part of the city’s rail line.
Several state agencies support the law, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
The law also has support from the Building Industry Association, Hawaii Construction Alliance and the Pacific Resource Partnership.
Advocates say the measure could spur Hawaii’s economy and will save taxpayers money by helping to avoid delays in construction projects. They say the measure puts Hawaii state law in line with federal law by allowing phased review of large construction projects that could last years. Critics say the opposite is true, and that allowing proposals to move forward without analyzing the complete impact on historical sites beforehand will lead to lawsuits, delays and higher costs.