I'm very pleased to announce that we have completed construction of the new Hale 'Imi 'Ike Learning Center at the Honolulu Zoo, which includes a classroom, reading area and space for multi-media presentations.

This Learning Center is a wonderful new addition to our zoo, and will be a great resource for teaching future generations about our animal friends and how we care for them. The 2,800 square foot Hale 'Imi 'Ike (House for Seeking Knowledge) Learning Center has seating for up to 50 people, makes extensive use of natural lighting and ventilation, and is furnished with a photovoltaic system to reduce energy consumption.

The new facility, located adjacent to the Keiki Zoo, will primarily provide space for Honolulu Zoo Society education programs, which include:

• Vacation Adventures, a weeklong camp held during school breaks in the summer, fall, winter and spring. The program provides children ages 6 to 11 with the chance to learn all about the animals at the zoo.

• School groups, for sit-down education presentations such as "Animals A to Z," which teaches about animal classifications, and "What's for Lunch?" which teaches about the distinctions between animal carnivores, herbivores and omnivores.

• Dinner Safari, with bio-fact presentations that include animal bones, skins, feathers and eggs.

• Strollers toddler program.

• Snooze in the Zoo, an overnight program.

In other news, the City Council recently took action to adjust the rail transit project's route so that it serves Honolulu International Airport, and I will respect that decision, even though it may make some people unhappy. I said from the start of this project that I believed an airport route would be best, but I have been flexible and willing to consider other possibilities. Now that the council has made its choice, our job is to continue moving forward and to ensure there are no unnecessary problems or delays.

Our rail transit project promises to be a great boon to our economy during these hard times, and to provide thousands of jobs and spur new development in long-neglected areas.

We recently took a major step toward beginning actual construction, by issuing the official Request for Proposal to construct the project's first segment, a 6.5-mile portion from East Kapolei to Pearl Highlands.

This is also a clear signal to officials in Washington D.C. that Honolulu is serious about rail transit this time. We've got a shovel-ready project and we're moving forward every day.

The Request for Proposal is for an estimated $550 million to $600 million design-build contract that includes track installation and surface restoration in addition to the guideway viaduct. Stations along the guideway are to be constructed in future contracts.

Contractors will have until March 13, 2009 to respond to the RFP. The selection process will take about six months and then final negotiations will be undertaken with the proposer providing the best value to the City when considering price and other factors. The winning contractor will be announced in the fall.

Separate RFPs are scheduled to be issued later this year for final design contracts for rail stations and a design-build contract for the maintenance yard. The procurement of vehicles, traction power and train control systems is also scheduled to begin this year.