An effort to put Honolulu's multi-billion dollar rail plan on the General Election ballot has once again been derailed.

The "Stop Rail Now" group collected 49,000 signatures, and they've all been rejected, at least for now.

When the group tried to turn in the petition to the City Clerk's Office this afternoon, the City Clerk told the group's attorney to take the petition back.

It was the day they had been waiting for.

A couple dozen anti-rail supporters show up at Honolulu Hale in solidarity.

"We got 49,000 signatures and counting, who hoooo!"

Pumped up and excited -- the "Stop Rail Now" group is ready to submit boxes of signatures to the City Clerk.

"Yes sir, here we go."

Holding signs and whistles...

"Let the people decide, yes!"

...they march into the City Clerk's Office.

Once inside, their engine backfires.

"I'm not really prepared to argue with you about it. I've already written to you about this, that we we would not be able to accept your petition and we cannot guarantee the security," said Denise DeCosta, Honolulu City Clerk.

Three weeks ago, DeCosta told the group it's too late to get their initiative on the November ballot.

Since the petition asks for a special election, she says the signatures should have been turned in 180 days before the General Election.

The group figured it would submit the signatures anyway.

"I might add there is no provision that says she may refuse it," said Earle Partington, "Stop Rail Now" attorney.

The group plans to file a lawsuit, seeking to force the City Clerk to accept its petition and put the initiative on the November ballot.

"Stop Rail Now" members feel DeCosta misinterpreted the City Charter.

"Some of the plaintiffs in our upcoming lawsuit tomorrow are going to be against rail some are just interested in seeing that the people vote," said Partington.

The City Council is also working to get the issue on the November ballot.

Councilmembers will meet again on Wednesday to discuss the proposed charter question, which, if passed by the Council, could still be vetoed by the Mayor.