City Council approves plans to obtain $3M for ferry demo
Mayor Mufi Hannemann's already delayed plan to start an intraisland commuter ferry likely will not be up and running until sometime early next year.
But the project got a boost yesterday when the City Council approved moving ahead with obtaining $3 million in federal funds needed to operate the ferry during a one-year demonstration. The city will put in an additional $750,000 to fund the operation.
City Department of Transportation Services officials said that the city is currently in negotiations with potential ferry contractors. The city hopes to secure three boats that will hold at least 150 riders each.
"There is no contract yet issued. That's why we need the (Federal Transit Administration) money to secure the contractors' services," said Darin Mar, the ferry project manager. "The money is already earmarked for this particular project, so this is just the paperwork formality to get the money officially released."
The ferry project was originally slated to begin this past summer, but the city failed to get bids from vendors to operate the system that would link up with city buses and run between Kalaeloa and downtown Honolulu.
Vendors were apparently not interested in investing three or more vessels for a one-year project.
The administration is now negotiating directly with contractors instead of seeking bids.