What has been plaguing the rail project is the continued rise in cost estimate.
Not only that. 
Defective materials have been successful in infiltrating the rail project:
** http://khon2.com/2016/05/05/engineering-experts-raise-quality-concerns-over-honolulus-rail-construction/
** http://khon2.com/2016/05/05/engineering-experts-raise-quality-concerns-over-honolulus-rail-construction/
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I believe those things happen because HART has been and is prematurely hiring a rail expert to "manage construction of the multi-billion-dollar rail project".  The latest being Andrew Robbins, "a senior director at Bombardier Transportation. "  
Premature because construction has not yet been finished.
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To bring discipline in cost estimates and construction, HART needs to hire  a civil engineer with expertise in construction project management. 
A rail expert is needed only when construction has been completed not when trains are not running yet.
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