A group opposed to light rail is hoping the power of the pen will put a stop to plans by Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann to build a $3.7 billion elevated mass transit system that would stretch from East Kapolei to Ala Moana.

Over a hundred people, many dressed in anti-rail t-shirts, attended a rally at Honolulu Hale Monday afternoon to kickoff a petition drive by StopRailNow.com. The newly formed group needs to collect the signatures of 29,454 registered voters by August 1 for its proposed city ordinance to be placed on the general election ballot in November.

“The ordinance that we are proposing says that Honolulu mass transit shall not include trains or rail rapid transit,” said Dennis Callan, co-chairman of the group. According to the Honolulu City Charter the organization must obtain the signatures of ten percent of the votes cast for mayor in the 2004 election in order for the ordinance to be voted on.

“We need 30,000 (signatures) but we'll go for 10,000 extra because you have to be a registered voter to sign the petition,” Callan told supporters.

Those who spoke at the rally believe an elevated light rail system will make traffic congestion worse, destroy Oahu's mountain and ocean views, and is too expensive for taxpayers to afford.

“We are not against the commuters in Leeward Oahu,” said Callan. “We want to help provide a better solution for them and for the rest of the island and it's not going to happen until rail is removed from the table.”

Michael Uechi, a physician and co-chairman of the petition drive, likened the campaign to David versus Goliath. “Have faith in the power of your signature,” he said. “Let's stop Goliath and rail now.”

Hannemann is strongly against any ballot initiative involving rail. The mayor has long maintained that elected officials at both the city and county level voted in favor of a mass transit system and the city has kept the public involved through community meetings and talk story sessions. “From the very beginning, opponents of transit have talked about this,” said the mayor’s spokesman Bill Brennan about the petition drive. “It's not really anything new.”

Last week Hannemann said he would forge ahead with rail as the choice for Oahu’s fixed guideway system after the City Council failed to pick a transit technology during a marathon hearing that featured six hours of testimony.

Gary Okino, one of four pro rail Council members, echoed Hannemann’s sentiments saying elected officials have access to crucial information needed to make an informed decision. “The decision for the people is electing your representatives,” he said. “It's a more sensible form of government rather than a government that's run by emotion.”

Organizers of the petition say their concerns have fallen on def ears and the initiative is meant to empower those who believe rail will be a disaster.

“We have been appealing to the City Council for years now and they have refused to listen to us,” said Callan. “The mayor has an arrogant stubborn position (that’s) pro-rail or nothing.”

Website for Anti-Rail Petition

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.