Honolulu’s $5.1 billion elevated rail project has taken some body blows lately in the form of two court decisions that brought construction to a halt on the project that just started moving dirt in March.
But in Tuesday’s election, the project got a boost when the pro-rail mayoral candidate Kirk Caldwell won the race.
Caldwell beat out former governor Ben Cayetano, who campaigned on a promise to kill the rail system.
Caldwell received 52.9% of the vote to Cayetano’s 45.2%.
Cayetano said he would shut the 20-mile rail project down if elected. It was his primary issue.
In his acceptance speech, Caldwell confirmed his commitment to the city’s $5.1 billion elevated rail project.
He also pledged work on other infrastructure problems, including the city’s aging sewer system, according to report from Hawaii News Now.
Cayetano credited his defeat to $3 million in advertising spent by pro-rail advocates, according to the report.
Honolulu’s combined city-county government governs the entire island of Oahu.
