TAMPA - The Tampa City Council threw its support today behind adding a high-speed rail stop at Tampa International Airport.

At the urging of council member Mary Mulhern, the council agreed to consider a resolution at its next meeting supporting state efforts to snag a share of more than $2 billion in federal grant money that could be used to extend high-speed rail from downtown Tampa to the airport.

The idea got the full support of the other three members at the meeting.

Council Chairman Thomas Scott said the airport should have been part of the original high-speed rail plan.

Current plans for a high-speed rail route run along interstate highway medians from Orlando International Airport to downtown Tampa at the site of the old Morgan Street Jail near Interstate 275.

"You're putting the airport at a disadvantage," Scott said.

Mulhern thinks the rail line should also stretch to Tampa's airport.

"People think it's too late to request an additional line from downtown to the airport. I don't think that's true," she said.

Without a high-speed leg from downtown to Tampa International Airport, rail passengers would have to rely on bus routes or a light-rail line if voters approve.

In November, Hillsborough County residents will decide on the sales tax surcharge that would help fund the area's first light-rail system, along with bus and road improvements added to the referendum to broaden its appeal.

Mulhern supports also making the airport part of the light-rail routes if voters give the nod.

No routes or stops for light-rail have been picked. The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, after taking suggestions from officials and the public, will recommend the routes to the federal government for approval.

Local transportation officials want to decide by August what light-rail routes and stations to recommend to federal officials to compete with up to 100 cities for transportation funding.

No decision has been made about whether a light rail station at Tampa airport would be part of the first wave of light-rail construction, but HART will vote on that at a Monday meeting.

A portion of the light-rail line could run directly from the proposed high-speed rail station at Morgan Street to the airport along I-275. It also could go south from the station through the heart of downtown and west to the airport.

If a high-speed line were added to the mix, it could act as an express route from downtown to the airport and the light-rail line would serve additional passengers with more downtown stops.

High-speed trains are expected to begin running by 2015 between Orlando and Tampa. Miami is expected to be added later. Mulhern pointed out a stop is also planned for Miami's airport, in addition to Orlando's.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731.