Local Officials On Obama Budget Request
Quotes from a Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation press release:
HART chief Toru Hamayasu: “We are pleased to see that President Obama’s budget includes a substantial request for Oahu’s rail project and we are grateful to Senator Inouye and Hawaii’s congressional delegation for their strong support. … This major budget request reflects the Federal Transit Administration’s continued confidence that Oahu’s rail project is one of the best transit projects in the nation and the fact that the project has been done by the book. It also indicates that we are near the end of the process towards obtaining the federal agreement for $1.55 billion in federal money later this year.”
HART Board Chair Carrie Okinaga: “The latest budget request from the Obama Administration verifies that the FTA continues to support this project. Our costs are under budget and our revenues are on track. We are on the right path toward securing our federal funding and HART will continue to work collaboratively with the FTA and other stakeholders to achieve that goal.”
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle: “This latest budget request by President Obama validates the FTA’s approvals that have shown that the rail project’s engineering and finances are sound. … This latest sign of commitment to Oahu’s project signifies strong backing on the federal level. With last week’s federal approval to begin the next phase of construction, Oahu can soon expect thousands of jobs and in time a rail system that will serve our island’s transportation needs for generations to come.”
Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin: “(T)he inclusionof $250 million in President Obama’s budget and the issuance of the Letter of No Prejudice on February 6 are proof that support for Honolulu’s rail project is solid in Washington. The fact that Hawaii leads the list of programs awaiting a full fundinggrant agreement is a demonstration of the effectiveness of Hawaii’s congressional delegation.”
