Honolulu Rail Transit eligible for share of $510 million in federal funds

The Honolulu Rail Transit Project is eligible to share in an allocation of $510 million in federal funds next year, provided the city and county of Honolulu and the Federal Transit Administration sign a full-funding grant agreement by the end of calendar year 2012. The money that is set aside for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project and a small number of rail transit projects in other cities, that are also in the final stages of development, represent continuing federal commitment to the project. "Federal funds are hard to come by in the current budget climate and Honolulu has an opportunity to secure substantial federal support for this long awaited project designed to help alleviate traffic on Oahu. Rail transit will create thousands of jobs and bring welcome relief to commuters who are forced to spend hours in their cars each day inching through congested roadways. "We have planned this project and debated its merits for decades and we must move forward. We must set aside our differences and work together. I remain committed to this project and will continue to do everything I can to direct federal funds to the work and ensure its timely completion," said Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye.