That’s according to court documents filed by the city, which is trying to get the project back on track.
Both sides of the rail lawsuit filed briefs late Friday, arguing whether to place a permanent injunction on the project. The plaintiffs claim there are violations of the rail’s environmental impact study, among other things.
"We think if anything it should go back to the transportation people to take a look at what has been done and what needs to be done, and they have to look at alternatives," said Michael Green, plaintiffs’ attorney.
The defendants, which include the city, declined to comment.
But according to court documents, say the "plaintiffs were fully aware of this ongoing construction. Apparently, they were not concerned about irreparable harm to any of their interests attributable to this construction."
The defendants also claim an injunction would increase the cost of the project by $149 million. Construction came to a halt in August when the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled the city needed to compete an archaeological survey of the entire rail line. Then in November, a federal court found three issues related to the fourth and final phase of the project. The city is asking to continue working on the first three phases, and believes an injunction, could harm the public, impact thousands of jobs, and delay environmental benefits. But Green says allowing the project to move forward, would create the greatest harm.
"They’ll be no money for public raises, no money for sewer, no money for water, no money for anything," Green said.
The defendants also cite last month’s election results. Kirk Caldwell, who supports rail, won the race for Honolulu mayor, which the documents say "demonstrates once and for all that the citizens support the project and believe that the project is critical to the public interest."
Both sides will return to court on December 12 to argue the issue.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
