KHON reports the feds have approved funding of 1.55 billion dollars of funding for the rail project, monies previously held up by pending litigation and an uncertain political election. With the president, senate, and mayor seats all still held by rail proponents, Senator Inouye's office announced a major step along the way to funding of the job:
"This is an important step toward providing federal funding for the Honolulu Rail Transit project. We have discussed and debated the merits of a rail line on the island of Oahu for the majority of my time in the Congress and I would like to thank Peter Rogoff and the Federal Transit Administration, President Obama, and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for partnering with the City and County of Honolulu to build a system that will alleviate traffic congestion, lessen our dependence on imported fossil fuels and provide our residents, in particular those living in West Oahu, with a much needed alternative to driving. The Full Funding Grant agreement will provide$1.55 billion for the project and I will continue to work in a bipartisan fashion with my colleagues in the Congress to ensure we appropriate what is needed to complete this project in an efficient and timely manner. The path to this agreement with the federal government has not been easy, but like the construction of the H-3 Freeway for Windward Oahu residents, and significant improvements to Kalanianaole Highway for East Honolulu, the rail transit project will bring welcome relief to West Oahu residents who spend too much time stuck in traffic."
The Senator's full press release is available here.
