HONOLULU — A bill to fund Honolulu’s financially beleaguered rail transit project has cleared a major legislative hurdle.
The Hawaii state Senate passed the bill Wednesday with a 16-9 vote. This puts rail officials one step closer to meeting a federal deadline to present a viable funding plan.
The proposal would generate an estimated $2.4 billion in additional tax money for the commuter rail line. It goes next to the Hawaii House.
Rail executives are up against a Sept. 15 deadline to show they can fully fund the project. Otherwise they risk having to return $800 million already spent.
State Sen. Will Espero says there’s no turning back and tearing down what’s been built.
Senators against the proposal say the state should focus on solving other problems such as homelessness.