Another milestone in Honolulu’s move toward a multibillion-dollar mass transit project comes up this week, and a final decision on the system is on track to be made this month.

The Honolulu City Council this week plans an important public hearing and reading of the bill that currently states rail as the project of choice. Opponents of rail still want amendments to be made, while proponents of the train are counting on a smooth finish.

In the debate over a mass transit solution for Oahu, there's one thing everyone agrees on: Something has to be done.

"If we delay it, we pay a higher cost,” said Vernon Taa, an Aiea resident. “The traffic isn't getting any better."

The city council this week will have a second reading and interim vote on the bill that will decide what project to move forward with among the "locally preferred alternatives" studied.

"Dec. 7 -- the public should really participate and come out on Dec. 7,” said Honolulu City Council Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz. The hearing beings at 10 a.m. this Thursday.

After this week, the bill goes back to committee one more time, and then heads for a final vote. A general excise tax hike to help pay for a project kicks in Jan. 1.

"I don't mind paying the higher excise tax if it's going toward education, but not for this," says Albert Furuto, a resident who opposes the rail option.

A multimillion-dollar study laid out options from "do nothing" to more buses, high-occupancy toll lanes, or rail and several rail routes, with the city bill currently heading toward rail projected to cost at least $3.6 billion.

"I don't think we can not afford to do something,” said city councilman Nestor Garcia. “We need to do something about traffic."

There are strong feelings for and against the system among the public – and among those who will make the final decision and lead the city during the project.

"This is the No. 1 missing ingredient to our quality of life," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said of the rail project he supports. “I really believe this is our last opportunity. If we don't make it happen this time, it will not happen in our lifetime."

"I don't think the rail system is the most effective use of the people's money," counters city councilman Charles Djou, who favors high-occupancy toll lanes instead. “What I think it's important that people understand is the enormous financial implications with this rail system vote."

The final decision rests with a majority vote of the city council, with most there backing rail at this point. The rail plan calls for a$1 billion in federal aide.

“We can't hand over this community to the next generation without any solution," Dela Cruz said.

A KHON2 special 3-day report on the city's transportation crossroads begins Monday night, focusing on the pros, cons, costs and benefits of what will likely be the biggest public works project in the city's history. That all starts Monday night on "Hawaii at 10.”