The Federal Transit Administration was withholding funding for the beleaguered Honolulu Rail Transit project until the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation came up with a financial plan to get the project to its long-delayed completion.
"The rail authority expects to collect $188 million more in taxes than previously projected to help finance the Honolulu rail project, but the city is still making plans to cut costs if necessary, including possibly deferring construction of the $315 million Pearl Highlands Parking Structure and Transit Center," according to an article by Kevin Dayton that might be behind a pay wall for some readers.
A non-pay walled version of the story is available on the Mass Transit magazine website. The article provides details into the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's recovery plan for the project as a response to a 30-day deadline set at the end of September by the Federal Transit Administration.
Cost-cutting steps listed in the recovery plan include "eliminating lighting between stations along the 20-mile rail line, modifying sound barriers downtown and redesigning the overhead canopies that will provide shelter at the eight urban Honolulu rail stations, according to a draft plan," reports Dayton.
"The FTA committed to provide $1.55 billion in federal funding to help Honolulu build the rail line, but has withheld nearly $744 million of that money until the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation develops an acceptable recovery plan," adds Dayton. Another article from September details the FTA's decision to withhold the funding when it set the deadline in September.
FULL STORY: Rail draft plan reveals potential cost-cutting measures
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