More than two-thirds of people surveyed support making a decision on whether to build rail based on an existing environmental study, according to a poll released yesterday.

The poll, conducted by OmniTrak Group Inc., found that 67 percent of respondents feel that a decision on building a mass transit system should be based on the city's current environmental impact statement.

Twenty-two percent want the state to conduct its own study of the rail project's financial plan, according to the poll sponsored by the Hawaii Business Roundtable and the Pacific Resource Partnership union trade group.

Gov. Linda Lingle plans to conduct a thorough review of the project's financial plan and to look into whether alternatives were adequately considered. Lingle has said she is concerned that the project could jeopardize state government finances if it fails.

However, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann wants Lingle to quickly review and approve the rail project's environmental impact statement once it is eventually delivered to her.

Construction of the $5.3 billion, East Kapolei to Ala Moana rail project was to begin in December 2009 but has been indefinitely delayed by a prolonged federal review.

The telephone survey of 700 adults was conducted Feb. 12-22.

The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.