President Obama’s FY 2015 Budget Includes $250 Million
for Rail
The Honolulu Authority of Rapid Transportation today was
informed by Hawaii’s congressional delegation that President
Obama’s fiscal year 2015 Department of Transportation Budget
includes $250 million for the rail transit project.
The $250 million is part of the federal Full Funding Grant
Agreement that ensures the project will receive a total of $1.55
billion in federal funds over the next several years.
“I want to thank our entire congressional delegation for their
strong and continued support. It is because of their commitment and
their efforts that we are able to keep the project on time and on
budget,” said HART Board Chairman Ivan Lui-Kwan. “Continued support
from our federal partners is essential as we move forward with
construction throughout the rail route.”
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the continued flow of federal
funds is vital to building rail and providing a better quality of
life for future generations. “Too many of our residents spend hours
in traffic daily, and it takes a toll on families. Thanks to the
diligence and efforts of our congressional delegation we continue
to move forward with Oahu’s rail system, fulfilling the legacy of
our great Senator Daniel K. Inouye and his commitment to an
affordable and reliable transportation option for Hawaii.”
Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin said the latest news
on federal funding will strengthen the project’s position and keep
it on track. “This strong federal funding commitment is important
to keeping the project on time and within budget,” Martin said.
“This good news out of Washington from our congressional delegation
reaffirms that this project is moving in the right direction.”
HART’s Executive Director and CEO Dan Grabauskas said the news
represents another positive step forward for the community. “This
moves us that much closer to delivering this project to our
community and providing our residents and visitors with relief from
some of the worst traffic in the nation,” Grabauskas said.
The $250 million for fiscal year 2015 would be in addition to
the $250 million appropriated for fiscal year 2014. Both
installments would be added to the $556 million in federal New
Starts transit funds received by the rail project.