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The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has extended a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) review/comment period for the Honolulu Rail Transit project from Aug. 16 to Aug. 26.

In July, the FTA approved a final EIS for the $5 billion project — which calls for building a 20-mile elevated light-rail line between East Kapolei and Ala Moana — and initiated a process to solicit public comments on the environmental document.

So far, the FTA has appropriated $55 million for the project and expects to fund a total of about $1.5 billion. A one-half percent general excise and use tax that Honolulu created in 2007 — and which expires in 2022 — is expected to generate about $3.5 billion for light-rail construction and rail operations.

Last year, the city of Honolulu awarded a design-build contract to Kiewit Pacific Co. for an initial 6.5-mile segment between Kapolei and Pearl Highlands. The city plans to launch light-rail service on the first leg of the route in 2012 and open the entire route in 2019.