HONOLULU -- Opponents of rail transit are making a big push to get the issue before Oahu voters this fall.

The group Stop Rail Now has spent $20,000 to get copies of a petition in MidWeek. The publication reaches more than 250,000 households.

So far, the group has collected 16,000 signatures to get the question on the ballot.

The anti-rail group said it averages about 500 signatures a day.

"A lot of the public think the mayor has been forcing this. This is our voice to make a statement to get the public involved, to take ownership of the government again," said Dan Douglass of Stop Rail Now.

Rail opponents are asking voters to mail the petition by Aug. 1.

The city clerk's office maintains the group needs 44,525 valid signatures to get the issue on the ballot.