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Late last week, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) reached a milestone with its transit-rail project by formally submitting its request for $1.55 billion in federal New Starts funding.

The Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) submittal is the final step in the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) planning and development process, which would conclude in a multi-year agreement between the city and county of Honolulu and FTA to formally establish the project’s level of federal funding, HART officials said in a prepared statement.

The project already has received $120 million in federal funding, which will go toward the requested $1.55 billion, they said.

“Before it signs a $1.55 billion contract, the federal government needs to ensure that the money will be well spent, especially when other cities are saying they need those same dollars,” said HART Chairwoman Carrie Okinaga. “Our rail project is being allowed through these gates because we have shown our commitment and ability to bring this project to fruition.”

After receiving HART’s request, the FTA will take about 30 days to review it before sending the request to the Office of Management and Budget for its 30-day review. Then, the FTA would inform Congress of its intent to sign the agreement as part of a 60-day notification process. The completed agreement is expected to be finalized later this year, HART officials said.

The $5.5 billion Honolulu Rail Transit project involves a 20-mile, 21-station elevated rail system that will connect East Kapolei with Ala Moana Center.