The City Council yesterday moved closer to changing the route of a planned $5.3 billion rail line so it passes through the airport district.

The council's Transportation and Planning Committee voted unanimously to divert the route from Salt Lake to the airport area. The full council is expected to take a final vote in favor of an airport route on Jan. 28.

A rail system that runs past Pearl Harbor and Honolulu International Airport would cost more to build and maintain, but carry more passengers and alleviate more traffic, according to the city's draft environmental impact statement, which analyzed the effects of both routes.

The current route was set in March 2007 in a political compromise between rail proponents and City Councilman Romy Cachola, who supported rail only if it went through Salt Lake. A change in political dynamics following the general election vote in support of rail, however, has increased pressure to switch the route to the airport.

Proponents of a Salt Lake route contend the train should serve a predominately residential area, which could help drive up ridership. Airport route proponents argue that the costlier route is more convenient for the broader Honolulu community, which also could generate higher ridership. Higher ridership means the system will require less in subsidies to pay for operations and maintenance.

AIRPORT ROUTE FAVORED

Despite the different demographic characteristics of Salt Lake and the airport district, there aren't major differences in the benefits and environmental impacts of either route.

There was broad support for changing the route among all council members attending yesterday's meeting except for Cachola, who urged the committee to stick to a Salt Lake route. Cachola, who's not a member of the Transportation and Planning Committee, and some Salt Lake residents argue the city should stay with the cheaper Salt Lake route.

Transportation committee chair Gary Okino yesterday said the sooner the council settles on a route, the sooner construction can begin.

"As far as I can tell, the evidence is pretty compelling that we need to go to the airport," he said. "The important thing to me is that we proceed — the sooner we start this, the less it's going to cost."

The city plans to start work on the rail line in December. Limited service between West Loch and Waipahu would start in late 2013, and full service to Ala Moana would begin by the end of 2018.

Auto dealer Servco Pacific Inc. submitted written testimony favoring an airport route. The Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Foster Village neighborhood board testified against the change.

Kane'ohe resident Ted Kanemori testified in favor of a route that starts at the airport and ends at Ala Moana.

"Being that we're under money constraints right now and I don't see us getting enough revenues to support this project, I'm in favor of the minimum segment starting at the airport-Pearl Harbor area and going to Ala Moana," he said. "At least we'll have a minimum operating system that generates revenues and is valuable to the community."

BID SOLICITATIONS

In other related business yesterday, the transportation committee agreed to fix a technical glitch that's preventing the solicitation of proposals to begin construction of the first phase. Legally, the city has been advised not to solicit bids for any construction contracts until the City Council alters the original ordinance authorizing the city to build the train.

That measure required the administration to seek council approval before soliciting proposals to build the train system. That was added as an attempt to keep the council and public informed about key project details. However, that provision also violates state procurement laws, according to the state Procurement Office.

The full council is expected to vote to fix the glitch on Jan. 28.