Hirono Announces City and County of Honolulu to Receive $90.8 Million to Address Coronavirus and Budget Concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the City and County of Honolulu $90,815,591 to provide public transit service through TheBus. This funding will ensure that TheBus continues to operate during the pandemic. Funds can be utilized to offset operational expenses due to reduced ridership, improve public health and sanitation efforts for TheBus, purchase personal protective equipment for transit employees, and other necessary expenditures in response to the coronavirus.

“Residents on Oahu are starting to see a phased relaxation of the stay-at-home order due to the participation of all residents to follow guidelines to reduce coronavirus transmission. TheBus remains a critical means of transportation for individuals who need access to medical treatment, food, and jobs. This funding helps to ensure TheBus will continue running safely to protect both passengers and transit employees, and provide stability for its operating budget during this economically challenging time,” Senator Hirono said. 

This grant is a component of the total $107 million in transit funding that Senator Hironoannounced in April that Hawaii would receive. This funding is paid entirely by the federal government without requiring a local match and can cover expenses that began on January 20, 2020.

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