The city of Honolulu, Hawaii, has received initial approval for a $20 million federal grant for engineering studies on a planned rail system in the city.
"The appropriation still needs to clear the full Senate. The U.S. House is expected to vote on a similar appropriation of $10 million next week, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said. The differences will be hammered out in conference committee."
"The Honolulu High Capacity Transit Project is one of 20 transportation and housing projects for Hawaii approved in the Senate 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill."
The city has been seeking federal grants for the project for years. "The difference this time around is the approval of the 0.5 percent general excise tax increase to fund mass transit locally, a key sign to the federal government that the city is serious about transit."
FULL STORY: Congress backs city's play on transit plan

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process
The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

Without International Immigrants, the Rural US Population Would Be Falling 58%
Census data shows that population growth in rural areas is due in large part to international migrants.

Dead End: Nine Highways Ready for Retirement
The Freeways Without Futures report describes the nation’s most promising highway removal proposals.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
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