MEDIA RELEASE

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, supported bipartisan legislation that he helped develop and would provide Hawaii with more than $45 million in transportation funding for Fiscal Year 2012.

The Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012 was approved unanimously by the committee.

“Hawaii needs this funding to help residents move around without wasting money, time, and energy driving in traffic to get to work, school, and medical appointments,” Akaka said. “I’m proud that the committee approved this funding increase for Hawaii’s public transportation systems.”

The bill would increase federal public transportation funding for the state from Fiscal Year 2011 levels by more than $4.15 million.

The Federal Transit Administration projects the legislation would provide Hawaii with more than $38.46 million for urbanized area grants to fund ongoing capital costs and preventive maintenance, $2.13 million for the State of Good Repair program to replace aging buses and infrastructure, $2.11 million for neighbor island bus services, $1.16 million for services for seniors and individuals with disabilities, $1.06 million for transportation needs based on expected urbanization and population growth, and $518,370 for planning.

The bill is intended to form the public transportation portion of a comprehensive federal transportation bill to be considered by the Senate in coming weeks.

For more information on the Federal Public Transportation Act of 2012, visit: http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Home.Home

At Thursday’s Business Meeting, Akaka also supported the Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Human Rights Act of 2012, which was approved by the committee.