An average of 119,600 people were originally expected to board the trains each weekday, but that will drop to 84,000 daily riders with the shorter route.

Project officials stress that they’re still fully committed to getting rail to Ala Moana, but it’s still not clear financially how that would happen.

The city has spent several years and millions of dollars fighting the developer in court over land for rail. Now, the transit system might not reach the Hughes Kakaako properties.

The original plan called for 20 miles of rail and 21 stations with trains traveling from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, but it’s falling short.

Commercial property values have spiked along the rail line since the tax to build the project went into effect. But rail didn’t create that new value, local analysts say.

Landowners got lucrative zoning perks and fast-track approvals to build luxury towers in the busy neighborhood all based on rail. Did they give enough back in return?

“There is still much more work to be done before we can turn this project into a success story,” Lori Kahikina said in a letter announcing her decision.

The plan needs approval from the Federal Transit Administration, and it’s not clear yet whether that agency will get on board.

HART board members contemplated what message that bonus might send to the public, however, as rail faces a severe financial crisis.

The latest snafu, involving track gauge, raises questions about the crossings’ design as HART struggles to make their components fit together.