HONOLULU -- Mayor Mufi Hannemann said on Thursday he will not veto the Honolulu City Council's measure approved on Wednesday to get the transit issue on the November ballot.

Council members agreed on a charter amendment to ask voters if they support the city's planned steel-wheel on steel-rail transit system.

The amendment will be put to voters only if Stop Rail Now's petition for a transit vote fails.

Hannemann said he prefers the wording of council's amendment.

"I am very, very pleased to be able to support it, and I commend them for their 8-0 vote to put it on the ballot to give the people the opportunity to say 'yay' or 'nay' on a project, which in my opinion, will improve the quality of lives," Hannemann said.

Hannemann said he believes Oahu voters will vote to approve the transit project. However, he said if voters reject the project it will send a very negative message to Congress and possibly put an end to the project.