A tax to pay for Honolulu's planned $5.3 billion elevated commuter train from East Kapolei to Ala Moana raised nearly $300 million during the first two years, according to new state tax figures.

The state began collecting a half-percentage-point general excise tax surcharge for transit in January 2007. During 2008, collections rose nearly 11 percent to $162.2 million. Despite the rise, transit tax collections overall remain below projections because of the state's slowing economy.

The newly released figures on how much has been raised via the transit tax could bolster calls from the Lingle administration and lawmakers to divert the transit fund. They have suggested using the money to ease an estimated $315.4 million state budget deficit in the fiscal year ending June 2010. Lawmakers have suggested the transit tax, which was to expire in 2022, could be extended a year or more to make up for money siphoned off this year.

City officials argue that diverting transit taxes for other purposes could jeopardize the train project.

"That's crazy," said council member Gary Okino, who chairs the council's Transportation & Planning Committee. "It's going to totally disrupt the project (and) it might even stop the project, or at least delay it."

City officials hope to use the tax to raise nearly $4.1 billion, on an inflation-adjusted basis, between 2007 and 2022 to pay for the 20-mile rail system. That, coupled with about $1.2 billion in anticipated federal funds, is expected to pay the $5.3 billion in capital costs associated with rail, according to the city's financial plan.

So far, things aren't working out as planned. From July to December collections were down nearly 6 percent to $79.4 million. However, the city expects to net $188 million in the current fiscal year ending June 30.

That means the city needs to collect an average of about $18.1 million a month for the remaining six months of the fiscal year. Monthly collections have never reached that level. The average monthly take during the first six months of the fiscal year was about $13.2 million.

If collections continue at the same pace the city could be short $29 million in transit funds by midyear. City officials said any near-term shortfall could be offset in future years.

"I think there's enough conservativeness built into (the financial projections) ... unless we're in a deep recession for another 10 years then it may be a concern," Okino said.

Transit tax collections through the first two years totaled $294 million.

That figure, and all figures in this story, do not include the 10 percent the state takes off the top to pay for administering the tax.

The city is still taking in much more than it is spending because construction isn't scheduled to begin in full until December.

Despite disappointing revenues, the City Council this week is expected to approve changing the train route to bypass Salt Lake in favor of an airport-area route. The change would increase the project's estimated cost by about $220 million. City officials have said they can ask the federal government to pay the added costs

Airport route proponents argue the route's benefits, which include potentially higher ridership, outweigh cost concerns.

However, council member Romy Cachola, who supports a Salt Lake route, said lower tax collections highlight the need to choose the Salt Lake route.

"If there's less collections, then the taxpayer will be the one to ante up and their burden will be increased," he said. "We have to look at the more cost-effective route and, to me, Salt Lake is because the airport will be another $220 million.

"As we are getting all this bad news we really have to look at how to save money."