The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) in December announced that U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz secured $63.8 million in new federal funding for Honolulu’s rail project. The grant is in addition to the remaining federal funds earmarked for HART by the Federal Transit Administration and are intended to cover inflationary cost increases if needed.

According to a December report by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO), global inflation is steadily increasing and Hawaii inflation remains high, but “surging public sector construction will prevent a recession in the Islands.”

HART expects to receive the funds early this year. “These funds will be used to further enable HART to meet its obligations under the Recovery Plan and achieve our construction milestones,” says HART Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina.