HONOLULU -- Opponents of the city's new bus rapid transit system, known as the BRT, are trying to kill the plan in favor of a light rail system. Honolulu came close to a fixed rail system a decade ago. However, a plan to raise the excise tax ultimately scuttled the idea.

Now, a bi-partisan effort has emerged to get some kind of rail system back on track.

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State Rep. Galen Fox-R doesn't like the city's BRT. He thinks the plan is a bad fit for Waikiki and the urban core.

"It's a really bad idea we have to stop it now and move toward sane traffic solutions," Fox said.

Fox is part of a group of both Democrat and Republican lawmakers who want to reconsider a rail system.

"I'm very happy that the City Council will be reexamining the issue of rail transit. I think it's time we put the brakes on the bus rapid transit program," Councilman Charles Dijou said.

A very frustrated Mayor Jeremy Harris said stopping BRT is a bad move.

"Twenty-five years of study is enough. It's time we took some action. It doesn't preclude a more elaborate more expensive system like fixed rail or light rail, but it's something we can do now," Harris said.

The city is waiting to hear if it has federal approval and funding for the BRT. It already has approval from a previous council to commit $31 million on the project by the year's end.

"I'm a big proponent of light rail. We need to do now what we can do now and that's to run hybrid electric buses between downtown and Waikiki and there no reason not to do that," Harris said.

Having been through this process once before Harris said the reality is it may take another six year before Oahu sees a rail system materialize.

The city said the first phase of the BRT involves the electric express bus system through Waikiki and downtown.