$20M penciled in for transit
Advertiser Staff Writer
A Senate panel yesterday set aside $20 million for Honolulu's planned mass transit project, and $56 million for 19 other transportation and housing projects throughout the state.
The money was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. If approved by the full Senate and released, the transit money will help pay for preliminary engineering phases of the $5 billion plan to link Kapolei and Honolulu.
"This is a clear statement that the federal government is committed to help solve one of the worst traffic congestion problems in the country," said Rep. Neil Abercrombie.
In a related matter, Mayor Mufi Hannemann will hold a public conference on transit-oriented development tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the Leeward Community College Theatre.
The city has invited experts to discuss how transit affected development in other cities, and what Honolulu should pay close attention to.
Among the other projects included in yesterday's Senate appropriation are: