Honolulu officials got the green light today to release a draft environmental impact statement for Honolulu's $3.7 billion elevated commuter rail.

That approval from the Federal Transit Administration greatly increases the likelihood the document, which contains updated cost figures for Honolulu's planned commuter train from East Kapolei to Ala Moana, will be released to the public before Tuesday's rail referendum.

When it is released to the public is now up to the city, according to the FTA.

"The FTA has concluded its review of the EIS and notified the city of Honolulu and the draft EIS is in their hands now," said FTA spokesman Paul Griffo. "That happened about 5 p.m. Eastern (time)." That's 11 a.m. Hawai'i time.

In testimony at a hearing this afternoon, city transportation director Wayne Yoshioka said the city was still awaiting approval to release the draft EIS. Yoshioka said he would have to consult with the city Rapid Transit Division to determine when the document would be publicly released. However, he could not say whether that would occur before Tuesday's vote.

"We will make every effort to release it as soon as we can," Yoshioka told the City Council's Executive Matters Committee. "The election has nothing to do with it (the timing of the release). What determines the release of it is when I get word from RTD that the document is ready for release."

Executive Matters Committee Chair Ann Kobayashi, who's also running for mayor, said she was surprised that Yoshioka was not aware of the FTA's decision when he testified.

"I was shocked when I got back to my office" and found out, she said. "All the time he had it sitting on his desk I guess.

"We should have it by today — the same time they have one, and we should be sharing it with the public so they can make an informed decision."