Posted on: Friday, March 11, 2005

House passes federal bill including O'ahu rail project

Gannett News Service

WASHINGTON — A proposed Honolulu rail transit system is included in a transportation bill overwhelmingly passed by the House yesterday.

The bill would distribute $284 billion to states for highway and transit projects through the end of the decade, but not enough, critics say, to cut the nation's lengthening commutes.

While the bill does not include any specific spending amount for the Hawai'i rail project, it means federal matching money would be authorized if it won state and local approval. In addition, the bill includes $32 million for other transportation projects in Hawai'i.

The bill, which passed 417-9, now heads to the Senate, where members might try to add money. But an increase could prompt a veto from President Bush, who has sought to apply the brakes on what he considers runaway spending.

"This is a frustrating position to be in when the cash flow is not where we want it to be," said Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who heads the transportation committee. "We actually need $500 billion to make sure this country keeps moving."