by Andrew Walden

Waiting for a Recovery Plan, the Federal Transportation Administration has been holding back HART funds since 2015.  $500M has not been disbursed and it appears that another $250M will soon be added to the backlog.

But two years later, instead of submitting a plan, HART is still wheedling for more time. 

In a September 30 submission to FTA, HART explains:

Via letter dated June 6, 2016, in response to rising project costs and schedule delays, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Region IX Regional Administrator Leslie T. Rogers requested the City and County of Honolulu (City) submit a Recovery Plan for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project (HRTP or Project) on or before August 7, 2016. (Exhibit A)

In response, on June 24, 2016, the City requested an extension of the Recovery Plan submittal date from August 2016 to mid-2017 so the City could secure additional financial resources and submit a financial Recovery Plan supporting construction of the Minimum Operable Segment (MOS) from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center. (Exhibit B)

On July 21, 2016, FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers wrote the City and agreed to extend the Recovery Plan submittal date to the end of 2016, subject to an August 2016 meeting with the FTA and submission of an Interim Plan by the end of September 2016…

But when HART submitted the so-called plan, September 30, what was the very first “goal” outlined?

The City is requesting an extension of the December 2016 Recovery Plan submittal date to June 30, 2017 ….

That would give Caldwell time lobby the Legislature for more GE Tax hikes—which is what all of this nonsense is about.

Read it for yourself: HART Interim Plan Sept 30, 2016.