Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hanneman and several city council members are on their way to inspect rail systems in the United States and Canada.

KITV News 4's Catherine Cruz reported the trip is the latest effort by the city to decide how to ease traffic on Oahu.

While Hanneman was on his way to a mayor's conference in Washington, D.C., he and councilmen Gary Okino and Tod Apo were making their way via the nation's rail systems.

"We are looking at the Vancouver system that some have said could be a model for Honolulu," said Hanneman. Hanneman also said he wants to look into a system built in Las Vegas.

Hanneman and the council members said they want to look into the financial operations and maintenance of the rail systems.

Hanneman previously looked at rail systems in Japan and the Philippines.

"This is part of ongoing effort to look at what these systems are about and learn from their shortcomings and mistakes," said Hanneman.

The transit timetable calls for an excise tax hike, which would help pay for the system.

City officials said the groundbreaking of a new system in set for 2009 with the projects completion ending up in 2012.