The Board of Directors of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) accepted the resignation of Dan Grabauskas, HART's executive director and CEO, and appointed board member Michael D. Formby as acting executive director, effective August 18, 2016. The HART Board stated it continues to be committed to the completion of the 20-mile route to Ala Moana.
“We are very thankful to Dan for all of his years of dedicated service to the rail project,” said Colleen Hanabusa, chair of the HART Board. “The project got off to a strong start because of his energy and enthusiasm. We wish him well.”
"It has been an honor and pleasure to have worked on this transformational project for nearly 4 1/2 years,” remarked Grabauskas. “I believe in the project and its importance to the residents of Oahu, and by stepping aside today I hope to allow HART to move forward to ultimate success with fresh leadership. The wonderful HART team has been like a second family to me and I wish all the best for them and the Board in the work ahead."
The HART Board and Grabauskas have agreed to a separation agreement in which he will be paid $282,250.
“The HART Board wanted to act swiftly but prudently so that the business of HART is not interrupted by Dan Grabauskas’s resignation,” said Hanabusa. "We are fortunate that Mike has the knowledge and leadership skills and was willing to assume this temporary assignment while the Board recruits for and fills the position of executive director and CEO.”
“After the HART Board meeting at which the appointment of Mr. Formby was made, I intend to meet with Mayor Kirk Caldwell to ask that he agree to the temporary assignment of Mr. Formby as the acting executive director of HART,” continued Hanabusa. “Mayor Caldwell has indicated his support of the HART Board and the rail project and I hope he agrees to the assignment.”
Formby, the director of transportation services for the City and County of Honolulu since 2013, served as the interim director of transportation in 2010, where he oversaw the management of the Airports, Harbors and Highways Divisions. Prior to serving as interim director, he was the deputy director of the State of Hawaii Harbors Division from 2007 to 2010.
Formby is an attorney with more than 20 years of litigation experience and has taught at the William S. Richardson School of Law and Hawaii Pacific University. He also previously served on the State of Hawaii, Land Use Commission.
“I look forward to working closely with Deputy Executive Director Brennon Morioka and the hard-working HART staff as we move quickly to strengthen our working relationship with the Mayor, the Honolulu City Council, the State of Hawaii and the Federal Transit Administration,” said Formby. “As a HART Board member, I am familiar with the many challenges facing this project and I am committed to working with the HART team to move this project forward in a manner that is transparent, responsive and in the best interest of the transit riders and taxpayers.”
Formby resigned from the HART Board upon accepting the acting executive director position with HART.
Hanabusa also announced the appointment of a permitted interaction group led by businessman Colbert Matsumoto to search for qualified candidates to fill the position of HART executive director and CEO.