Last December, the Honolulu City Council, by an unprecedented 9-0 vote, reaffirmed its position on the completion of the Honolulu rail project to Ala Moana Center. The Council also committed to look into all sources of funding to reduce the cost of the remaining rail construction, including public-private partnerships, an adjustment to the state’s 10 percent portion of the surcharge and/or a permanent extension of the general excise tax.

The fact that an extension is currently under consideration at the state Senate demonstrates that completion of the rail project is a shared concern. Still, the city must justify the need for an extension along with reassurances that this time, projected construction costs are accurate.

While the city must rightfully bear the brunt of the operation and maintenance of rail, I continue to maintain that there are innovative ways to share the cost of construction. The state could invest a share of federal highway funds to support rail construction; this is permissible, but would have to be closely coordinated with the project and closely mirror the route.

Given the many benefits rail will provide to our visitors, a link could be established with the tourist industry to generate funds for rail. Landowners, developers and businesses who stand to benefit the most from rail need to get into the game in a serious way. They could fund the final eight stations in return for naming rights or concessions. They could also receive incentives and zoning exemptions that would allow them to recoup their investment in a relatively short time.

As the general excise tax (GET) extension is debated at the Legislature, I urge everyone to take a broader view of the statewide economic impact of the project. It is becoming increasingly clear that this project will benefit the state as much or more than the City and County of Honolulu. The University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus recently announced an ambitious plan for expansion near the starting point of the rail line. The soon-to-be University Village will include an affordable housing component as well as housing for seniors, students and faculty together with retail and commercial activities.

Honolulu Community College, too, is situated near a rail stop where property redevelopment will no doubt generate more revenue for the state. And would the state even be discussing the possible redevelopment potential of the present Oahu Community Correctional Center campus but for the rail project?

These are but a few examples of the unlimited redevelopment opportunities along the rail route where a greater number of properties belong to the state than to the city. Can the state’s ambitious goal of increasing the inventory of affordable housing by 22,500 new units by 2026 be possible without rail? Probably not.

The rationale for extending the rail surcharge should be less about how the county will manage to complete the rail project and more about how the state of Hawaii will benefit in the long term. At the end of the day, we all need to take ownership of this project or we all stand to lose a great deal more than just a train.

Ernie Martin is a City Councilman and former Council chairman.