Of all the rail
“milestones,” this one may be the biggest.
The City has submitted its
application to the Federal Transit Administration for a Full Funding Grant
Agreement to complete work on the 20-mile elevated rail line between East
Kapolei and Ala Moana Center. If fully funded, the federal government will
provide $1.55 billion for the project.
The Star-Advertiser’s Kevin Dayton has a comprehensive story (subscription
required) in today’s paper that
covers several significant pieces of news, including the FFGA application.
Michael Levine’s story in Civil Beat may be more accessible.
The
above chart is from Levine's story. Both are recommended reading for the
clarity in describing the project and its financing. The Honolulu Authority for
Rapid Transportation’s press release also is online.
The estimated completion
date for the first phase of the project is now mid-2016. The push-back was
caused largely to delays in completing the Final Environmental Impact
Statement.
Also, the revised financial
plan includes the FTA’s higher collection estimate for the general excise tax
surcharge of 0.5 percent on Oahu transactions that is providing the local share
of rail’s construction costs.
Look-Back
We called yesterday’s Yes2Rail post perhaps the most important one in this space over the past four
years. It focused on the “traffic reduction” issue within the rail
discussion that seems to be on the front burner this summer.
You’re encouraged to keep
reading, below, if you didn’t see it yesterday.
4 comments:
The application reveals a big item that nullifies Ben's claims that his BRT solution will save money. In the O&M segment, it shows that for FY2017 to FY2030, only 23% of O&M total system wide cost is attributed to rail. The Bus occupies the majority. In fact, in FY2030, over $600 million is needed for total O&M. About $500 million is for The Bus and The Handivan, not rail. And Ben wants to further increase the bus fleet for BRT?
Ben has no idea what he's talking about and no real plan, and the people manipulating him will play along if he supports their self-serving schemes to build more godawful freeways or provide special toll road access for the elite who buy the cars they sell or private buses and taxis they operate.
Doug,
I have recently seen anti-rail arguments that then Governor Lingle was unable to sigh the EIS because she did not and was not provided an original copy to sign. Is this true?
Roy, it certainly is not true, and the allegation that the City failed to provide a copy of the FEIS to the Governor is more misinformation from a certain group of rail opponents.
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