IRT Mary Louise O’Brien, how much can we afford and how far will it take rail?  On 19 July 2016, HART awarded a design-build contract to construct the Aloha Stadium to Middle Street section.  The contract is for $874.7 million (without change orders).  However, the award letter says HART was able to certify funding for $820 million only and the availability of funds in excess of $820 million is contingent upon future appropriations which HART will be seeking from the HART board and city council. Construction was expected to begin within six months, which would have been January 2017, but it has not yet started.  Why not?  Could it be the contractor wants a guarantee for the additional $52 million and that HART still does not have the money?   If the contract was to start and HART is not able to come up with the $52 million, it could stop at or near the airport.  Time will tell.