The Honolulu City Council today moved a step closer to changing the route of a planned $5.3 billion elevated commuter rail to pass 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 on the issue 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 analyzes the effects of both routes.