The Faith Action for Community Equity group said it is traveling to Washington, D.C. next week because of concerns Honolulu’s rail project could siphon off money from the city’s bus system.

FACE, which said it supports rail, said it is working with groups around the country to pass an amendment to a jobs bill in Congress allowing cities to use up to 10 percent of their federal funds to subsidize existing systems.
FACE leaders will join interfaith leaders from 20 other urban areas at the Transportation Equity Network’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. They will be asking Congressional and administration officials for help in closing the gap in Hawaii’s rail plan.
The city is proposing diverting $300 million from TheBus to pay for a planned $5.3 billion train.