Some people said they were so bothered by the city's third community meeting about Honolulu's rail transit that they decided to change their positions and oppose the project.

One man called the session a “;snow job.”;

Transit officials faced other criticism and encountered repeated interruptions for questions by residents while trying to continue with the chosen format of providing answers to written questions.

About 35 people showed up at last night's meeting at Waipahu Intermediate School. They got these answers from officials:

» How much is the fare? ($2.)

» What would happen if the city votes against the rail? (It will be very difficult to proceed.)

» How noisy would it be? (About 75 decibels from 50 feet away, or about 5 decibels less than a bus.)

» How much will it cost to build? (About $5 billion after inflation.)

» Why didn't it start on the Waianae Coast? (Because the city and state have goals to focus growth in Kapolei, Ewa Beach and Honolulu while leaving the outlying areas as country.)

» How big will it be? (About six traffic lanes wide.)

Moira Maeda-Namamike, a Waipahu resident, said she would support rail if it is done right, but after attending the information session, she decided to oppose it.

“;It confirmed my decision more,”; she said.

She said she felt city officials skirted the questions. Her biggest concern was the noise, since she would be living along the route.

Craig Smallwood said the meeting helped turn him into an opponent of rail.

“;They lost an adamant supporter,”; he said. “;I came here pro-rail, but I got a problem with the way they're doing this information session.”;

But not all were against rail.

Waipahu resident Jamie Itokazu had signed the Stop Rail Now petition but removed her name after considering the environmental and economic reasons for rail.

“;Rail is good,”; she said before the meeting.

Ewa Beach resident Jonathan Aguir, 22, said the meeting turned him against rail but that mayoral candidate Ann Kobayashi's plan for a fixed guideway for rubber-tired vehicles is no better. He said he believes Kobayashi is just pandering to opponents of the city's proposed transit project.