Hawaii lawmakers take big step to aid rail line
HONOLULU -- Hawaii Gov. David Ige says he expects to sign a bill that provides funding to bail out Honolulu's financially troubled rail transit project.
Ige said Friday he expects to sign the bill after a review.
He made the comment after the state House of Representatives passed a bill to raise $2.4 billion in taxes for the commuter train planned for Honolulu and nearby suburbs on the last day of a special legislative session.
The $9.5 billion rail transit line, one of the most expensive per-capita in the nation, is less than half built and faces a shortfall up to $3 billion.
Among other things, the bill would raise the hotel tax statewide by 1 percentage point to 10.25 percent for 13 years, through 2030.
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