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$15.5 Million Approved for Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project, Hawaii Delegation Announces
Initiative Is Among 21 Hawaii-Related Transportation and Housing Projects Set to Receive a Total of $76.7 Million Following Final Congressional Approval
November 13, 2007
WASHINGTON - Members of the Hawaii Congressional Delegation announced today that a House-Senate conference committee has approved $15.5 million to fund one of its top priorities - the preliminary engineering phases of the facility and transit system design of the Honolulu-Kapolei transit project. The initiative, also known as the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project, is part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which is now awaiting final passage by both the House and the Senate before being sent to the White House for the President to sign into law. The Honolulu-Kapolei project is among the 21 transportation and housing initiatives for Hawaii that total nearly $76.7 million in the conference-approved appropriations measure. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee who served as one of the Senate's conferees, said: "With traffic congestion worsening between densely populated Honolulu and fast-growing Kapolei, this project offers a solution that all motorists can embrace. More than 546,000 people - 60 percent of Oahu's population - live in the transit corridor, and they say they want relief from heavy traffic congestion." Senator Daniel K. Akaka added: "I am proud that we have been able to secure resources in millions of dollars for the initial phase of the Honolulu High-Capacity Corridor Project. The conference report will also provide essential resources to help meet the transportation, housing, social service, and economic development needs of Hawaii." Commenting on the Transit Corridor Project, Representative Neil Abercrombie said: "This fulfills our promise of a federal contribution for the project - in the theme of yet another promise kept. Committing these kinds of federal dollars to Honolulu demonstrates the confidence that Congress has in our project. This is where the hard work of the Hawaii delegation begins to pay off." Representative Mazie K. Hirono said: "This initial funding represents a relatively small amount of the estimated $3.6 billion project, but significantly it demonstrates Congress' support for this initiative. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I am working closely with the Committee chairs to secure funds for the project. And, of course, the entire Hawaii delegation is committed to obtaining substantial federal cost-sharing for this initiative." Other Hawaii-related initiatives in the measure include a combined total of more than $11.5 million for Native Hawaiian housing, loan guarantees, and community development; $7.5 million for ferry infrastructure or vessels; $1.2 million to prevent the introduction of alien species through aircraft that fly to Hawaii; and $234,000 for housing repair and renovation of the nearly century-old plantation homes in Kunia Village. The following are the Hawaii-related initiatives in the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFederal Transit Administration Formula Funds $31,907,358These funds are used to support and maintain the City and County of Honolulu's bus system, including the purchase of replacement buses and Handi-vans, and the construction of transit centers.Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project $15,500,000The appropriation will fund the preliminary engineering phases of initial facility and transit system design, in addition to the refinement of capital cost estimates, as required by the Federal Transit Administration. Hawaii Ferry Funds $7,500,000This is Hawaii's share of an allocation that is equally divided between Hawaii and Alaska for capital investments in ferry infrastructure or vessels, and will support Oahu's renewed interest in a ferry system from West Oahu to Honolulu.H-1 Improvements Kinau and Lusitana On-Ramps $3,900,000These funds will be used to complete this project, which provides safe freeway access to and from downtown Honolulu.Rural Bus Program $1,560,000These funds will be used by Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai counties to purchase buses to expand routes and increase the frequency of service throughout the neighbor islands. The funds may also be used to provide bus shelters, transit benches, and upgrades to comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.Alien Species Action Plan $1,248,000This appropriation will be used to continue the implementation of the federal Alien Species Action Plan governing the State of Hawaii and air carriers serving Hawaii to prevent the introduction of alien species through aircraft that fly to Hawaii. Under this initiative, aircraft and cargo must be inspected and cleared of alien species upon arrival. Maui's Kahului Airport is the only airport in the nation subject to these rigorous inspection requirements.Federal Land Improvements $1,170,000Federal property within Hawaii includes several extensive wildlife refuge and national parks located on four islands. These parks encompass rugged volcanic terrain, wetlands, tropical forests, coastline, and historical fishponds used in Native Hawaiian aquaculture. This appropriation will enable access to and within designated federal properties for proper park service maintenance and security.DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENTNative Hawaiian Housing Block Grants, Hawaii $9,000,000The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is working to increase the affordable housing inventory on Hawaiian homelands to meet the demand for housing for low-income Native Hawaiian families. DHHL is seeking to enhance the supply of affordable housing units through the construction of infrastructure improvements, single-family, multi-family, rent-to-own, and rental housing. Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Program $1,500,000This appropriation is half of the $3 million provided through the HUD Community Development Fund to support both Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions in their efforts to address community development needs in their localities, including neighborhood revitalization, housing, and economic development, principally for persons of low or moderate income.Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund Program $1,044,000These funds in credit subsidy will support loan-guarantee authority of $41,504,255. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) intends to utilize the loan program as an institutional borrower to construct houses for purchase by low-income borrowers by way of direct loans from DHHL.Arc of Hilo Client Support Services Facility $268,000This appropriation will be used to build a client support service facility in Hilo to expand services for disabled people, develop a community choir and music program, create a Special Olympics training program, provide a wheelchair-accessible swimming pool, develop low-income housing, and expand after-school youth services.Keehi Adult Supportive Services Center Project $234,000These funds will be used to complete construction of a center that will be used as a health center and daycare facility. The center will primarily be used to provide low- and moderate-income elderly men and women with instruction on computer use, aerobics, cooking, gardening, music, dance, nutrition, medication, personal hygiene, and health screening.Kunia Village Housing Repair and Renovation $234,000Catholic Charities Hawaii Social Service Community Center Renovation $200,000This appropriation will be used to renovate a Catholic Charities Hawaii social service community center.Easter Seals Hawaii Kapolei Service Center $200,000This appropriation will help complete the construction of a program service center in Kapolei. The center will have activity rooms, classrooms, and physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy rooms to serve 500 youths and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, and other disabilities.Goodwill Ohana Career and Learning Center, Kapolei $200,000Leeward Oahu has a large population of chronically underserved communities, including Native Hawaiians and non-native speakers. Leeward residents seeking job training currently must take a three-hour bus ride to access training programs in urban Honolulu. The center in Kapolei will assist 1,600 individuals in acquiring English language, resume-writing, and interview skills.Gregory House Programs $200,000The appropriation supports the work of Gregory House Programs, a Honolulu-based nonprofit agency, which provides temporary shelter and support services, including job training, for homeless people coping with AIDS/HIV. Hawaii Nature Center Makiki Valley Watershed Education Center $200,000This appropriation will be used to design, develop, and construct an interactive exhibit center that would create community awareness on preserving the watershed that feeds into the Ala War Canal.Kipahulu Kitchen Construction Project $200,000The remote Kipahulu area of east Maui is mainly inhabited by Native Hawaiian families that have lived in the area for generations. The community engages in small-scale organic agriculture, ranching, hunting, and fishing. However, the community is challenged by poverty and substance abuse. This project will permit the community to process products such as poi, sugar cane juice, bananas, and fish, and support job and income generation, and skill development.Momilani Community Center Adult Day Health and Child Care Facility $200,000These funds will be used to construct an adult day health center in Pearl City that will provide social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities to help the elderly remain active and productive. Hawaii's aging population is expected to increase exponentially in the next decade. National Tropical Botanical Garden's Botanical Research Center $200,000Funds will be used to construct a botanical research center, which will be used to assist economically disadvantaged families living on west Kauai by training both youths and adults in horticulture and natural resource management. Through skilled and gainful employment, the cycle of poverty will be broken.
Year: 2008 , [2007] , 2006 , 2005 , 2004 , 2003 , 2002 , 2001 , 2000 , 1999 , 1900
November 2007
- Akaka Appoints Waipahu Student to be U.S. Senate Page [November 21, 2007]
- Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Announces Hearing on Nomination of Dr. James Peake to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs [November 16, 2007]
- Akaka Supports Defense Funding Bill Requiring Iraq Withdrawal [November 16, 2007]
- Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Approves Nomination of Michael W. Hager to Be VA’s Assistant Secretary For Human Resources and Management [November 16, 2007]
- Akaka Urges Senate Action on Veterans Legislation [November 14, 2007]
- Akaka Veterans' Mental Health Bill Approved by Committee [November 14, 2007]
- Governmental Affairs Committee Approves Telework Legislation [November 14, 2007]
- $15.5 Million Approved for Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Corridor Project, Hawaii Delegation Announces [November 13, 2007]
- Akaka Delivers Post-Veterans Day Speech on Senate Floor [November 13, 2007]
- $208 Million for Defense-Related Projects in Hawaii Clear Final Congressional Hurdle, Await Enactment into Law [November 9, 2007]
- The Iraq Accountability Project: A Wrap-Up of This Week's Senate Oversight on Iraq [November 9, 2007]
- Kerry, Akaka Seek More Veteran Business Owner Data [November 9, 2007]
- Akaka Applauds Signing of COLA Increase for Disabled Veterans [November 8, 2007]
- Akaka Holds Oversight Hearing on Veterans Claims Appeals Court [November 7, 2007]
- Senate Democratic Veterans Discuss Largest-Ever Veterans Funding Increase as Wars Continue to Stretch V.A. Thin [November 7, 2007]
- Akaka Applauds Signing of Veterans' Suicide Prevention Bill [November 6, 2007]
- Akaka Holds Hearing on VA Credentialing [November 6, 2007]
- Akaka Troubled by Report on Weaknesses in Border Inspection [November 5, 2007]
- House-Senate Conference Panel Approves $691 Million
For Labor, Health, Education, and Military Construction
Projects for Hawaii, Inouye and Akaka Announce [November 2, 2007]
- Senate Passes Compensation Reform for Blinded Veterans [November 2, 2007]
- Akaka, Inouye Cheer Senate Approval of Children's Healthcare Bill [November 1, 2007]
- Akaka and Senate Colleagues Insist White House MUST Seek Congressional Approval for Offensive Military Action against Iran
[November 1, 2007]
- Akaka Reacts to New Data on Combat Traumatic Brain Injury [November 1, 2007]
- Akaka Introduces "Plain Language" Bill to Improve Government Communications With the Public [November 1, 2007]
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