Reality check, folks: Any sensible transit system for O'ahu should include the Honolulu International Airport. To spend billions of dollars and precious time on a transit system that bypasses the airport just makes no sense — neither fiscally nor from a practical perspective.

But a shameless show of politics at the City Council resulted in an eleventh-hour switch in the transit-line route that now skips the airport entirely and instead sticks taxpayers with a route that passes through the middle of Salt Lake's residential community. While that switch was enough to secure Salt Lake area Councilman Romy Cachola's vote, it sold taxpayers short.

So it's good to see that the city's key environmental study on the first phase of the transit system's route will include a look at more than the politically inspired Salt Lake route.

To be sure, the Salt Lake route cleared by the council might very well be the one we're stuck with. But broadening the study to include two other options — including one that would dump the Salt Lake route for the original airport alignment — makes sense. Perhaps the side-by-side comparison in this environmental study will inspire greater minds to make a change for the better. Best not to hold your breath on that score.

Still, having the legwork done on these options would also help the city avoid costly delays, should a change become necessary. The last thing that's needed on a project of this scope is costly delays.

All the routes being studied for the project's first phase stretch from the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu's campus to Ala Moana Center. The one selected by the council follows Salt Lake Boulevard and eliminates the airport; another includes the Salt Lake option, adds a spur from Aloha Stadium to the airport, then reconnects to the main line near Middle Street; and the third (and most practical) subs the Salt Lake portion for service directly to the airport.

The city's draft Environmental Impact Report should be finished by next summer, with the final report to be completed a year later. Much can happen in that time. The council can even come to its senses and get things back on track by reviving the original airport route. Hey, anything's possible, right?