Honolulu rail project remains eligible for federal funds with FTA approval of recovery plan

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) remains eligible to receive the remaining federal funds committed to its rail project under a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) following FTA’s approval of its 2022 Recovery Plan.

“Since HART submitted the recovery plan in June, we have been working hand-in- hand with the FTA, meeting weekly, to keep the process moving toward recovery plan approval,” said HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina, P.E. “We are so thankful for the support and communication from the FTA to accept the recovery plan as is and amend the Full Funding Grant Agreement, which is unprecedented, so that we may see the project through to completion. It is a strong show of confidence in the work of this administration and in the cooperation and partnership with our many stakeholders.”

The 2022 Recovery Plan, which was submitted to FTA in June 2022, was required by the FTA to document HART’s plans for the completion of the rail project within the amount of funding that is forecast to be available. The recovery plan includes amending the FFGA to reflect a rail project that is 1.25 miles shorter than the original scope of work. The project will terminate at Civic Center Station rather than Ala Moana Transit Center and temporarily defer the construction of the Pearl Highlands Parking Garage, which will reduce the estimated project costs from $10.46 billion to $9.93 billion.

HART says the forecast funding is sufficient to cover the costs of the reduced scope. The rail agency intends a future phase of the project using non-FTA Capital Investment Grant program funds to build the remainder of the original rail line to Ala Moana Transit Center. ........(more)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/article/21282574/honolulu-rail-project-remains-eligible-for-federal-funds-with-fta-approval-of-recovery-plan