HONOLULU -- A new KITV/ Honolulu Star-Bulletin poll shows more than twice as many Oahu residents support building a rail transit system compared to those who want to stop the rail project.

The poll also finds strong support for rail even in neighborhoods that are not located along the proposed rail line.

Oahu's proposed $4 billion rail transit project has generated a lot of debate and could be up for a vote as soon as this fall.

The poll asked: "If a vote were held today, would you vote to continue development of rail transit for Oahu or to stop development of a rail transit system?"

The poll of 402 Oahu residents has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percent.

If a vote were held today, would you vote to continue development of rail transit for Oahu or to stop development of a rail transit system?
Continue Development	60%
Stop Development	24%
Neither, Would Not Vote	4%
Not Sure	12%

If a vote were held today, would you vote to continue development of rail transit for Oahu or to stop development of a rail transit system?
ANSWER	ON ROUTE	OFF ROUTE
Continue Development	70%	56%
Stop Development	18%	27%
Neither, would not vote	3%	4%
Not Sure	10%	12%

Keith Mortensen commutes to downtown from Waimanalo. He is a strong rail supporter.

"There's too much traffic on the road. I mean, it's really bad, and I think either you improve the bus system or improve the highways, but that's probably never going to happen, so I guess the best thing is the rail transit, I'm all for it," Mortensen said.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who backs rail transit, said he is not surprised by the strong support shown in the KITV/Star-Bulletin poll.

"I've always felt that the silent majority supports rail. People are tired of sitting in traffic, they're tired of studies, they want action," Hannemann said.

Of those who responded, 24 percent said they want to stop development of rail, 4 percent said they would not vote and 12 percent said they were not sure.

"I don't believe it's going to help congestion, and I believe the cost is excessive. There are so many more things we could do and better things we could do to relieve congestion," Kailua resident Tom Pico said.

"I just don't find it credible," Stop Rail Now leader Cliff Slater said.

Slater questions the accuracy of the poll, because it was conducted by SMS Research, which has been paid by the city in the past to conduct polls on bus ridership and other projects.

"I don't understand why you would use SMS when there are other firms with no connection to the city at all that would make it more credible," Slater said.

The poll also found 70 percent of those questioned who live along the proposed rail line want the city to continue developing rail.

The project's popularity remains strong in neighborhoods off the route, like Waianae, East Honolulu and the Windward Side, where 56 percent of those polled support the project, according to the study.

Transit Technology Not Clear Cut

The study found that just less than half of those polled support the current plan for steel wheels on steel rail technology.

Do you think the proposed steel-on-steel rail transit system is the best solution to Oahu's traffic problem?
Yes	46%
No	36%
Not Sure	18%

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Read the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's story on the technology breakdown.

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Do you think the proposed steel-on-steel rail transit system is the best solution to Oahu's traffic problem?
ANSWER	ON ROUTE	OFF ROUTE
Yes	44%	48%
No	36%	36%
Not Sure	20%	17%