Honolulu to use city funds to fill light rail project shortfall
FTA demanded that Honolulu officials come up with $44 million to help pay for administrative costs associated with the project.
The bill allows the city to spend up to $214 million — no more than $26 million annually — to help finance the administrative costs for construction of the now $8 billion-plus rail line.
HONOLULU — With a seven to two vote, the City Council approved a measure that would use city-backed bond money for construction of Honolulu’s beleaguered light rail system, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reports.
The bill allows the city to spend up to $214 million — no more than $26 million annually — to help finance the administrative costs for construction of the now $8 billion-plus rail line, despite earlier assurances that no taxpayer money would be used.
The Federal Transit Administration, which has committed $1.55 billion to the project, demanded that Honolulu officials come up with $44 million in taxpayer dollars to help pay for administrative costs associated with the project and detail how that would be accomplished as part of an overall recovery plan for the project by Nov. 20. For the full story, click here.
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