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WASHINGTON » Hawaii’s congressional delegation has urged Gov. George Ariyoshi to get together with city officials to plan alternative projects with funds now earmarked for the H-3 freeway.
Passage of legislation to enable H-3 to proceed "cannot be assured," said the March 11 letter released today by Democratic Sens. Spark Matsunaga and Daniel Inouye. "We urge you to make all efforts to prepare for its eventuality in order to avert a total and dire loss for the State of Hawaii."
It was the strongest acknowledgment yet by the lawmakers that legislation to exempt H-3 from federal environmental requirements is in trouble. Sen. Robert Stafford, R-Vt., has refused to bring to a vote in his Environment and Public Works Committee the bill sponsored by Matsunaga and Inouye.
At stake is $716.1 million in federal money set aside to build the trans-Koolau freeway. State and local officials must decide by Sept. 30 whether to drop plans for H-3 in favor of other highway and mass transit projects. If they continue with H-3, but cannot get Congress to approve the exemption or otherwise resolve environmental objections, the money would be forfeited.
The letter, also signed by Democratic Reps. Cecil Heftel and Daniel Akaka, stressed that the delegation remains committed to passing the exemption. However, the letter said, passage is made more difficult by the "persisting differences" between state and local officials.
"Given the uncertainty of the legislative process and the impending transfer deadline," the congressmen wrote Ariyoshi, "we strongly encourage you to plan for negotiations with city and county officials to determine alternative uses for the H-3 funds.
Federal transportation officials said state and local officials do not need to agree on specific alternatives by Sept. 30. If they decide to drop H-3, other projects can be selected annually as money becomes available. …
Some local officials, including Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, already support dropping H-3 and substituting other projects. The state remains generally committed to H-3.
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