Honolulu’s plans to build a 20-mile elevated rail system appear to be clearing funding hurdles despite staunch opposition from mayoral candidate and former governor Ben Cayetano.
Daniel Grabauskas, the newly selected executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, on Wednesday met with Federal Transit Administration officials about the status of the $5.1 billion project, according to a transit agency release.
The new transit chief, who officially begins his role April 9, met with FTA administrator Peter Rogoff, and several U.S. legislators who represent Hawaii, about a $1.5 billion grant approved by the FTA in February.
The project has already been allotted $120 million of those funds and is poised to receive a share of $510 million this fiscal year.
President Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget also includes $250 million for the project.
Rogoff reiterated the FTA’s commitment to the project and the funding during the meeting, according to the release.
“We assured them that our project is on track and well-positioned to receive full federal funding,” Grabauskas said.
The new executive director, who is preparing to move to Honolulu from Boston, said he decided to meet with officials while he was still on the East Coast because it is more cost-effective and it will give him a head-start on his new job.
Cayetano, who has vowed to put the kibosh on the rail project if elected, held a press conference on Wednesday outlining his opposition.
He is challenging Mayor Peter Carlisle, a rail supporter, in the November election.
Cayetano says the rail system will balloon the city’s debt load and that the city is diverting resources from other needed infrastructure.
