WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced that the House-Senate Conference approved $12.1 million to construct a facility for the relocation of the Diamond Head Hawaii Combined Center Radar Approach Control (CERAP) to the Honolulu Air Traffic Control Tower/Terminal Radar Approach Control at the Honolulu International Airport.

"This has been a long-standing concern of the State of Hawaii. The Committee has supported this relocation effort in the past. I am pleased that the Committee appropriated funds for the construction of this new facility at the Honolulu International Airport. The design and construction of the new facility will be completed in July 1999. It will take approximately one year to install and test the communications and radar equipment and an additional six months to train the controllers. The CERAP at Honolulu International Airport is scheduled to be operational on January 1, 2001," stated Senator Inouye.

The Conference Committee also approved $5 million to construct a new bus maintenance facility, and to purchase additional buses. The $5 million will go toward a three year plan for bus facility infrastructure improvements including land acquisition, planning and design, and construction, and for the purchase of buses. These improvements will help address Oahu's traffic needs by increasing bus frequency and routes.

"The problem of severe traffic congestion is a critical issue in the City and County of Honolulu. These federal funds will allow for the expansion of the fleet and for the construction of a maintenance facility to better serve our residents and visitors who depend on the bus system on a daily basis," said Senator Inouye.

In addition, the Conference Committee recommended two studies for Oahu. The first will allow the City and County of Honolulu to evaluate mobility alternatives for Honolulu's primary urban corridor from Ewa to East Honolulu. This study will focus on the development and implementation of alternatives to increase the mobility capacity in the primary corridor.

"The Ewa to East Honolulu urban corridor is a critical rush-hour traffic backlog. Over 600,000 people are expected to utilize this corridor on a daily basis within the next ten years. We need to determine cost-effective alternative modes to accommodate this demand. I look forward to working with the State of Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu to accomplish this mandate. This study will be an important comprehensive step," Senator Inouye stated.

The second study will address the barriers to navigation and impediments to smooth vessel flow in Honolulu Harbor. Currently, the western neck of the Harbor is blocked by the Sand Island Road Bridge, and on occasion ships are required to exit the Harbor through the Honolulu Channel, after turning around in the center of the Harbor. In the future, there will be newer and larger commercial container ships that will be too large to make the required maneuvers. Rather than wait until this occurs, the study calls upon the Coast Guard to make a determination as to whether a barrier to navigation exists in Honolulu Harbor, and if so, what are the most cost-effective alternatives that the state can pursue.

Senator Inouye also successfully secured $292,061 for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program to support rural communities. Kamuela on the Island of Hawaii, currently receives EAS funds.

The conference report on the Fiscal Year 1998 U.S. Department of Transportation Appropriations Bill will now go to the full House and Senate for final passage before its transmittal to the White House.