Legislators ask federal official to speak here on rail

With another tax-extension request coming their way, state lawmakers have now formally asked that rail’s federal partners brief them directly in Hawaii on the financially troubled project.

Whether the Federal Transit Administration will agree to such a public briefing remains to be seen.

In a Monday letter the Legislature’s two majority leaders, Sen. Kalani English (D, East Maui-Upcountry-Molokai-Lanai) and Rep. Scott Saiki (D, Downtown- Kakaako-McCully), invited FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers to brief state lawmakers next year as both chambers prepare to consider extending Oahu’s general excise tax surcharge for the second time in three years.

Saiki said last month that he aimed to bring the FTA to the Aloha State and clarify its position on the project, which faces a multibillion-dollar shortfall to make it the full 20 miles to Ala Moana Center with 21 stations.

State lawmakers and the public have had to rely on the local leaders who attended meetings with the FTA in San Francisco last summer to provide details on the agency’s latest expectations for rail.

Saiki said the Legislature wants to get a clearer picture directly from the FTA on what it would accept without revoking its $1.55 billion funding deal for rail. The federal agency has already said that it won’t accept stopping at Middle Street.

Representatives at the FTA’s Washington, D.C., headquarters weren’t available for comment Tuesday — the agency had already closed for the day there.

Saiki gave the FTA about a “50-50” chance of accepting his and English’s invitation. He said that it’s his understanding that agency leaders would rather the legislators meet them in either San Francisco or Washington.

He said he would prefer the briefing take place in Hawaii so the public could observe.

“I think it’s important for the public to hear the FTA position on this project,” Saiki said. “It should be from the source.”

If the briefing has to take place on the mainland, Saiki said, the Legislature’s leadership, along with the finance and transportation committee chairmen for the two chambers, would attend.

City leaders are determined to find a way to build the full project, but they’re also considering a scaled-back “Plan B” that attempts to build with the money available — and in a way the FTA deems OK.

In 2015 state lawmakers authorized a five-year tax extension to provide rail an estimated $1.5 billion more on the project leaders’ assurances that it would likely be enough to finish the project.

Leg to FTA 12-20 by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd