News of a criminal investigation arrives as Honolulu looks to seal the deal on the release of $744 million from the Federal Transit Administration.

UPDATED: HART must provide consultant contracts, lists of contractors, change orders, archaeological studies and correspondence with the Federal Transit Administration.

UPDATED: Heidi Tsuneyoshi wants an independent probe to determine if public money has been misappropriated and if project officials have acted illegally.

UPDATED: The latest audit to drop on the agency blames “inexperienced HART managers and contractors” for not keeping costs in check.

UPDATED: Andrew Robbins has proven a “quick study” in his first year leading the project but needs to improve, according to his job evaluation.

UPDATED: “Consultants often manage consultants, who manage other consultants,” the state audit found, and HART doesn’t hold them accountable.

Rail officials said the settlement with Ansaldo covers a delay of more than 2,000 days.

UPDATED: The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation did not even level with its own board of directors about ballooning expenses, a new report says.

City and rail officials satisfied federal requirements that they spend $44 million in local funds on the project, pursue a public-private partnership and update their financial recovery plan.