State briefs for May 3

Rail officials unveil recovery plan for project

HONOLULU (AP) — Honolulu rail officials released a recovery plan for the unfinished public transit project.

The report calls for a less-expensive plan to end the concrete pathway near Aloha Tower and eliminate seven stations along the route. The original plan called for 21 stations on 20 miles of elevated pathway leading to the Ala Moana Center.

“Plan B,” as it is referred to in the report, could cut rail ridership by about 60 percent. The rail also would face delays to assemble new environmental studies and deal with litigation.

The report follows renewed debate about the best way forward for the rail. Some advocate for stopping the line at Middle Street, while others want to bring the rail to ground level for the last 4 miles into town or want to have the project scrapped altogether.

The report was required by the Federal Transportation Authority after the project’s costs soared from $5.8 billion to $8.2 billion. Including financing costs, the project is estimated to cost as much as $10 billion.

The rail’s current budget is about $6.8 billion.

Officer acquitted in 19-year-old pedestrian’s death

LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — A Kauai police officer will return to patrol duty after a jury found him not guilty of negligent homicide for hitting a pedestrian with his vehicle while responding to the scene of an accident.

Officer Irvin Magayanes was acquitted Thursday in the 2015 death of 19-year-old Michael Kocher Jr.

Kocher, of Hanapepe, was walking down Kaumualii Highway when he was struck by a car. He was still alive and lying on the roadway when he was struck again by Magayanes, who was traveling at 75 mph as he responded to the initial crash site.

Magayanes was assigned to administrative duties after the incident. He is expected to return to regular duty.