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The FTA says it “will discuss all possible options” amid rail’s latest, massive cost increases and schedule delays.

The good news is the hard-charging politician is willing to help HART. The weird thing is how it happened.

Rail authority CEO Lori Kahikina provided no details, but said she believes public interest in riding the train is still high.

The former congresswoman had lined up a consulting gig that could have been worth nearly $1 million. But the deal raised many concerns including by contract experts.

A $3.6 billion dollar budget deficit has taxpayers in Honolulu wondering if the rail project will ever reach Ala Moana Center as promised. The line is now projected to cost at least $12.4 billion and there are more calls for it to stop at Middle Street.

But 44% say it should go all the way to Ala Moana Center instead of shortening the 20-mile route.

Hawaii U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono says Honolulu shouldn’t expect more money from the federal government to bail out its $12 billion transportation project.

The news that former Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa is taking a six-figure consultant job with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has a lot of folks suspecting the influence of politics on a project way over budget and way behind schedule.

It’s not clear how the FTA would respond to such a move. The mayor said he’ll bring it up with the agency during meetings this summer.

UPDATED: The 18-month contract comes after nearly half of HART’s staff was recently purged.