Public has opportunity to comment on rail report

The Honolulu City Council is giving the public a chance Wednesday to comment on the recently released final environmental impact statement for the city’s $5.5 billion commuter rail line.

A hearing is not a step that is required before the rail project can proceed, Council Chairman Todd Apo said. But five City Council members asked last September for a public hearing following a Kamehameha Schools report about the rail project, he said.

Apo said the public hearing is being scheduled now because he had promised to do so once the final environmental impact statement was released.

The report was issued June 14 and final comments must be submitted by July 26.

Written comments received by the Council will be passed on to the city Department of Transportation Services, Apo said.

The hearing will be part of the Council’s regularly scheduled 2 p.m. meeting.