A MESSAGE FROM HART EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO REGARDING COVID-19

From HART Weekly e-blast

Aloha,   April 6, 2020

We are in difficult times now as a community and we thank the Governor and the Mayor for their commitment to keeping us safe. Under their recent orders to ‘Stay at Home, Work from Home,” there is a category of “essential infrastructure” under which the Honolulu Rail Project falls. Therefore, construction on the rail project continues forward and in fact has been progressing quite normally. While this situation could change very quickly, HART’s contractors are getting the necessary crews, equipment and materials in the field that are needed. With the lighter than normal traffic on the roads, we are doing all we can to get as much work done as possible during these times. And as an industry, the construction sector is one part of the local economy that can continue and is being counted on to help buffer the unfortunate downturn in other sectors, such as with our visitor industry. Our construction personnel greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue earning their paychecks that also creates the opportunity to support other local businesses, all while making the needed progress on this important project for the future of Honolulu.

As HART operations and construction continue during the pandemic, we have a major responsibility to ensure the safety of our personnel. HART staff has largely moved to tele-commuting and those that do report to work are practicing the guidelines of the CDC and the Hawaii Department of Health by washing hands, practicing social distancing and staying home when sick. HART’s Construction Safety and Security team immediately put in place special guidelines and proper protocols for all Project contractors and management, such as staying at home when sick, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) inclusive of gloves, being aware of and changing behaviors to practice social distancing on the jobsite including during lunch breaks, not sharing drinking coolers, providing multiple hand-washing stations, avoiding handshaking and touching others, and washing and wiping down tools and equipment.

Project Managers on all HART contracts have been asked to acknowledge in writing, their concurrence with our Project guidelines and protocols so that HART as an ohana can remain healthy and continue work on this “essential infrastructure” Project. Project Managers are instructed to brief their work crews about safe working practices on a daily basis.

We are committed to continue making progress on this important Project and we are equally committed to safe working practices particularly in light of the Covid-19 crisis. I wish to sincerely thank our staff, consultants, contractors and the labor unions for their full commitment to these endeavors and for their continuing support toward the successful completion of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. And I thank the general public for their understanding and patience, input and cooperation, through both normal and trying times.

Please stay safe and take good care of your families and friends.

Andy Robbins

HART Executive Director & CEO