FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2011 THE HONOLULU RAIL PROJECT RECEIVES STRONG SUPPORT FROM U.S. HOUSE TRANSPORTATION CHAIRMAN, REP. JOHN MICA (Thurs., Jan. 20, 2011)— Mayor Peter Carlisle, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and Toru Hamayasu, the City's General Manager of the Rapid Transit Division, met with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) earlier today in Washington D.C. During the meeting, Chairman Mica expressed his support for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. "Honolulu is bordered by the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. This project will service the area where the vast majority of Oahu's population live and work and will help address the area's traffic congestion issues," said Chairman Mica. Citing the benefits of rail transit in Honolulu and Rep. Hirono's efforts in keeping his committee informed about the project's progress Rep. Mica said, "I support this project, especially with Honolulu's local commitment and I will continue to work with Rep. Hirono and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to make sure the project does not get bogged down in bureaucratic red tape." "I am very pleased and grateful to Rep. Mica for his continuing support for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project," said Mayor Carlisle. "Receiving the Record of Decision was a tremendous step forward for Honolulu and Rep. Mica has offered to help us continue our implementation and expedite the construction of our project by working with the FTA, Rep. Hirono, our entire Congressional Delegation, and the U.S Congress," said Carlisle. "I, too, am grateful for Chairman Mica's support for the Honolulu Rail Project and his commitment to help advance this vital transportation and quality of life initiative," said Rep. Hirono. "His support is another core building block as we enter the final phase of development and begin construction," she concluded. Mayor Carlisle also met with Rep. John Duncan (R-TN), Chairman of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the Ranking Member of that Subcommittee, and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), the Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Each of the members expressed their willingness to work with the City and County of Honolulu as it advances its rail project. Mayor Carlisle also met with the Federal Transit Administration earlier this week. The City plans to begin the initial stages of construction by relocating utilities along the project alignment within the next month giving Oahu residents the chance to see tangible evidence of the project coming to fruition. -30- Media contact: Louise Kim McCoy, Mayor's Office, 768-7798. |
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