Washington, D.C. -- $43.8 million in federal funding for Hawaii’s mass transit system are being released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in February. 

"This investment in our public transportation systems is part of the Economic Recovery package because it puts people to work, and that’s the first step in economic recovery."said Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who worked with local officials and the Obama Administration to include the funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.   "However, just as important, this investment helps us build the kind of energy efficient, convenient, safe and reliable transit system that can meet Honolulu’s needs far into the century, a system that helps us turn our vision of Hawaii’s future into reality."

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