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
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