HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Gov. Linda Lingle announced Monday a proposal to build a 22-mile long "light rail" system and a elevated highway above Nimitz Highway to deal with Oahu's traffic problems.

The $2.6 billion project, with an operational cost of $22 million, will require tax hikes. Traffic experts said Oahu traffic is expected to come to a complete standstill 20 years from now unless something is done.

The governor announced Monday a proposal for a fixed rail system that would stretch from Kapolei to downtown Honolulu.

"Everybody understands that there will have to be some kind of tax increase to pay for a transit system," Lingle said.

The governor's task force has looked at 10 places to increase taxes including the gas tax, vehicle registration fees and vehicle weight tax.

The light rail system would be done in increments, with the first to stretch from Leeward Community College to Aloha Stadium.

Supporters for the light rail system said one of the clear benefits is that because it is elevated, it won't take any existing lanes out of traffic. Funding for the rail system would be 50 percent federal and 50 percent from state taxpayer funds.

U.S. Rep. Ed Case said he is happy there appears to be agreement between the city and the state on the proposal.

"We need consensus," he said. "It is very difficult to waddle up to Washington and advocate it if you don't have consensus."

Honolulu City Council Chairman Gary Okino said he thinks the public will back a fixed rail system.

Video

Governor, Officials Release Transit Proposal

"I would say about 90 to 95 percent of the calls or write ins are all in suppport of this fixed rail system," Okino said.

The other project is a flyover on Nimitz Highway. It would be going down the Nimitz median in the area where the Nimitz contraflow now runs, and would stretch from Keehi to Pacific Street and veer into the Ala Park area.

"It will be an elevated section initially designed to two lanes of traffic going into town in the morning and going out of town in the evenings," transportation director Rodney Haraga said.

The flyover will eventually be concerted to a section of the light rail system. The flyover will be completed in 2009 at a cost of $200 million.

The federal government would pay 80 percent of the cost of the flyover, with state taxpayers picking up the rest of the tab.

This is not the first time in recent years a rail system has been proposed. Eleven years ago, the Honolulu City Council rejected a 15-mile rail system. Council members worried about the excise-tax hike they'd need to fund it.

The governor's rail proposal will consider adding two spurs in the future: one to the University of Hawaii, the other to Waikiki.