HART CEO, FTA and Hawaii’s congressional delegation meet in D.C.

Written by jrood

Newly selected Honolulu Area for Rapid Transit CEO and Executive Director Daniel Grabauskas met with the head of the Federal Transit Administration and with Hawaii's congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., to discuss the status of Honolulu's rail project in preparation for receiving additional federal funds.

Grabauskas, who officially begins his new role on April 9, and interim HART executive director Toru Hamayasu met with FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff, U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka and U.S. Reps. Mazie Hirono and Colleen Hanabusa to discuss the expected full-funding grant agreement, which provides $1.55 billion in federal money for the rail project.

Honolulu’s transit project has already been allotted $120 million of those funds and the project is poised to receive a share of $510 million this fiscal year. President Obama’s FY2013 budget also includes $250 million for the project. Grabauskas said the meeting with the FTA went well.

Grabauskas, who is preparing to move from Boston to Honolulu, said he decided to visit with federal officials while still on the East Coast because it was more cost effective and would allow him to hit the ground running when he arrives in Honolulu.

As the new chief executive of HART, Grabauskas will run the agency responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the $5.2 billion rail project.

The 20-mile rail transit system from East Kapolei to Ala Moana is expected to open in 2019.

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