Council bills go off rail

Two measures support transit gear countering the mayor's preference

With a slim chance that the technology for the city's $3.7 billion mass transit system could be anything but steel rail, the City Council will have at least one more hearing on the issue.

In an expected move that frustrated some members, the City Council agreed yesterday to push forward two new bills selecting rubber-tire-on-concrete and magnetic levitation as the technology for the 20-mile elevated system running from Kapolei to Ala Moana.

It is typical for the City Council to pass bills on first reading. However, it is likely these measures will not advance much further.

Transportation and Public Works Committee Chairman Nestor Garcia, a steel-rail supporter, said he would discuss these bills at the next committee meeting but would not advance them unless he is convinced the other technologies are better. Bills need to pass three readings and receive the mayor's signature to become law.

With the exception of Councilman Charles Djou, the other members of the transportation committee -- Todd Apo, Gary Okino, Rod Tam -- are also strong steel-rail supporters, which means it would be highly unlikely for the bills to pass as they read now or at all.

"We've had extensive discussion on this," said Okino, who pushed to kill the bills yesterday. "I don't think we need to go through another eight-hour committee meeting to go over the same thing."

Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, one of the bills' authors and a rubber-tire system supporter, called it "undemocratic" to dismiss the bills on first reading.

Councilman Romy Cachola, who was seen as one of the swing votes for technology, has declined to say which technology he preferred but will support the transportation committee's decision.

"Whatever is left after the smoke clears, I will be OK with it," Cachola said.

City Transportation Services Director Wayne Yoshioka called the new bills the Council's prerogative. However, he said "there is nothing new to be said about this."

Last month the City Council failed to select a technology for the mass transit system, prompting Mayor Mufi Hannemann to announce that he is moving forward with a steel-rail system.

Under a city ordinance, the City Council has until July 16 to pass a law selecting technology or the mayor's decision stands. Hannemann has also said he will veto any bill that selects anything besides steel rail.

In her first public remarks on transit technology, Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall, who was absent last month for the crucial votes because her mother died, supports having more than one technology.

"Obviously, we are not a unified body," said Marshall, who remains opposed to the entire project. "Obviously, we don't have any clear idea of what is the right thing to do. It seems to me, as long as that exists and as long as there are as many questions as there are, we ought to keep those options open."