Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi meets with the Federal Transit Administrator in Washington, D.C.
News Release from City and County of Honolulu, March 11, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi met in Washington, D.C. with Federal Transit Administrator Nuria Fernandez, the Administrator’s senior headquarters staff and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Region 9 Administrator Ray Tellis to discuss the way forward for the Honolulu rail transit project (HRTP).
“It was important to meet face-to-face with the Administrator,” said Mayor Blangiardi. “We have been in indirect and virtual talks for some time, but I felt it important to come to Washington to meet in-person with Administrator Fernandez and her staff to explain the actions that I, HART and the Honolulu City Council have taken in support of the HRTP, including the dedication of a portion of the City transient accommodations tax to the project. In addition, given my communications background, I know that sitting directly across the table from a major project partner is the best way to forge a strong, collaborative relationship that will drive execution of this critical transit project.”
Joining Mayor Blangiardi at the FTA meetings were Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) CEO Lori Kahikina and Honolulu Department of Transportation Services Director Roger Morton. They updated the Administrator on project construction progress, the system operating plan and potential elements of the Recovery Plan that HART is preparing for the FTA’s consideration.
Mayor Blangiardi said, “Even though this was a very quick turn-around trip for me, the time I spent with the Administrator was well worth the trip. I wanted her to know that I, personally, the City and HART will be strong partners with her and her agency and that we are committed to making sure that the transportation benefits that were envisioned when this project began are realized for the residents of O‘ahu, especially our transit dependent community.”
* * * * *
Mayor Blangiardi travelling to Washington, D.C. to meet with FTA to discuss Honolulu’s Rail Project
News Release from Office of the Mayor, March 9, 2022
HONOLULU – Mayor Rick Blangiardi will be travelling to Washington, D.C. on the evening of Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
While in Washington, D.C. Mayor Blangiardi will meet with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) officials to provide a status update for O’ahu’s rail project. The Mayor has been addressing the FTA via Zoom and this will be his first in-person meeting.
Mayor Blangiardi is scheduled to return to O‘ahu on Saturday, March 12, 2022.
Managing Director Michael D. Formby will serve as Acting Mayor while Mayor Blangiardi is out of state.
—PAU—
Federal Transit Administration awards Honolulu with $21 million in federal operating assistance funds
News Release from Office of the Mayor, March 9, 2022
HONOLULU - The City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS) has been awarded $21 million in discretionary federal operating assistance funds by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This extended funding award allows transit agencies to maintain essential services impacted by COVID-19.
Honolulu’s share is a portion of $2.2 billion shared with 35 other transit operators throughout the country. “We are extremely grateful to receive this funding from the American Rescue Plan,” said DTS Director Roger Morton. “Increased funding for transit will allow DTS to increase our investment into service improvements as we welcome riders back to TheBus and TheHandi-Van.”
In November 2021, DTS submitted a competitive proposal that spelled out the need for additional funding to counter the impact that COVID-19 brought upon transit operations here in Honolulu. The $21 million in awarded funds will be used to restore TheBus and TheHandi-Van to pre-COVID levels of transit service, covering operations and personnel costs, and enabling better transportation access to O’ahu residents island-wide.
—PAU—