Rail Project Receives $67.5 Million In Federal Funds
The Honolulu Authority of Rapid Transportation (HART) today
received $67.5 million in federal funding for the rail project as
part of a $1.55-billion grant agreement between HART and the
FTA.
The $67.5 million is part of $255 million in federal money
currently available for the Honolulu rail transit project this
fiscal year. The project to date has $320 million available in
federal funds under the Full Funding Grant Agreement. That
agreement, signed last December, guarantees the project a total of
$1.55 billion over the next six years.
“This shows the continued commitment of our federal partners to
providing Honolulu with a safe, reliable and efficient
transportation alternative to some of the nation’s worst traffic
congestion,” said HART CEO and Executive Director Dan Grabauskas.
“These funds will be used to reimburse the project for
design, engineering and other costs associated with building Oahu’s
20-mile rail system.”
“This latest installment of funds further illustrates that the
project is on strong footing with the FTA and allows us to keep the
project on track,” said HART Board Chairwoman Carrie Okinaga.
“We will continue to work with the FTA in moving the project
forward.”
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the latest infusion of federal
funds is a strong indicator of the project’s success.
“It signals the federal government’s continued support for the
project even in these difficult times. It is also a reflection of
the years of dedicated work by Senator Dan Inouye, one of this
project’s greatest champions, and our entire congressional
delegation,” Caldwell said. “It moves us that much closer to
improving the quality of life for Oahu residents by providing an
alternative to sitting in traffic burning gas and losing time.”
Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernest Martin said, “The release
of $67.5 million from the FTA at this time is an unmistakable sign
that Honolulu will have the full federal funding support through
the completion of the rail project.”
The rail system includes 21 stations at key education,
employment and retail destinations, including UH-West Oahu, Leeward
and Honolulu community colleges, Honolulu International Airport,
Downtown Honolulu, Pearl Harbor and Ala Moana and Pearlridge
shopping centers. The first 10 miles of the rail system from
Kapolei to Aloha Stadium is expected to open in 2017, with the full
20-mile line opening in 2019.