Things are looking worse and worse for the beleaguered Honolulu rail project. Cost overruns. Construction defects. Staff turnover. When does it all end?

The changes come amid the HART board’s private discussions on future leadership at the agency.

HART says HECO’s new safety standards were the problem. The utility, meanwhile, blames shoddy and delayed design work by a rail contractor.

The canopy arms have caused numerous problems. It’s not yet clear who’s responsible and who ultimately should pay to fix them.

HART is looking into helping to cover a $3.6 billion shortfall with a share of a new 3% city hotel tax, but the City Council is noncommittal and the hotel industry is wary.

A group of trespassers recently breached a station and wandered onto the elevated track, prompting the warning.

No prior board nominee in HART’s decade-long history received the same public scrutiny over qualifications and potential conflicts as Aalto did, reflecting a growing unease with the project.

A former FTA planning director says it’s time to pause and study the best path forward for the troubled transit project.

Updated: The nomination of Joe Uno’s proposed replacement, Anthony Aalto, could go before the full City Council next week.

HART officials now hope to shore up rail’s finances with money from the 3% hotel tax the city is authorized to impose.