HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers are bailing out Honolulu’s financially troubled rail transit project. The state House of Representatives passed a bill Friday to raise $2.4 billion in taxes for the commuter train. The planned rail line is among the most
HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers are bailing out Honolulu’s financially troubled rail transit project.
The state House of Representatives passed a bill Friday to raise $2.4 billion in taxes for the commuter train.
The planned rail line is among the most expensive per capita in the nation.
The $9.5 billion system is less than half-way built and faces a shortfall up to $3 billion.
Rail officials are up against a Sept. 15 deadline from the federal government to show they can pay for the project. Without that they risk losing $1.5 billion in federal dollars.
Republican representatives introduced floor amendments to cap money going to rail and exclude neighbor islands from a hotel tax increase but these failed to pass.
The proposal passed the Senate Wednesday and now heads to Gov. David Ige for his approval.
