Despite a December letter from the Federal Transit Administration that told Honolulu it had to improve the strength of its financial plan for rail, top federal transportation officials expressed clear optimism about the project on Wednesday. 

In separate interviews with DC808 on Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said they believed Honolulu could make rail happen.

“This is a very important project,” LaHood said. “It’s a good project and I have no doubt they’ll continue to work with the community to make it happen.”

Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and HART Financial Committee Chairman Don Horner both emphasized that Rogoff, during a lengthy meeting with the pair, indicated that the project is “on track.” (Read a related article about what Carlisle, Horner said about the meeting.)

Rogoff called resolving financial issues a matter of “paperwork.”

“This is just a matter of making sure that the cashflows match the revenues,” Rogoff said. “That’s what we’re working on with the city.”