Hirono Announces $8.9 Million Grant for Kauai and Hawaii Counties to Provide Rural Transit Service During Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) $8.9 million to support rural transit service in Kauai and Hawaii counties during the coronavirus pandemic. The Kauai County Transportation Agency and the County of Hawaii Mass Transit Agency can use these funds on capital, planning, or operational expenses like salaries, fuel, vehicle maintenance, and supplies to clean and disinfect the buses.

“Communities in Hawaii rely on rural transit like The Kauai Bus and the Hele-On Bus, which connect people to food, medical treatment, and their work. As our state begins to reopen, this funding will allow Kauai and Hawaii counties to safely continue their transit operations, and keep both riders and transit workers safe despite these economically unpredictable times,” Senator Hirono said.

This is the rural grant component of the total $107 million in transit funding that Senator Hirono announced for Hawaii in April. In May, the Senator announced TheBus would receive $90.8 million to address the coronavirus and budget concerns. The entire $107 million in transit funding is paid by the federal government without requiring a local match and can cover expenses starting January 20, 2020. 

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