Two days after Governor Lingle signed a petition to put rail on the ballot, Honolulu's Mayor fired back with a panel of former state directors who say we need rail now.

"If you want to hear more validation of what this project will do, who better than individuals who've sat on that hot seat of the department of transportation?" asked Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

It's an impressive group. Four former state transportation directors and a deputy health director. All who said rail is the answer to traffic gridlock on Oahu.

The director who served under Governor John Burns said the issue has been studied since the 1960's.

"Everytime the problem was studied the answer invariably came out rail transit. I don't know how many times we have to study it before that answer would change," said Fujio Matsuda, former transportation director.

On Saturday, Lingle announced she signed a stop rail now petition to let voters decide whether they want the $4 billion system.

"I think when you get an issue that so important, so widespread in it's impact, and in this case so expensive it just makes sense to let the people decide," Lingle said.

Rod Haraga, who worked under Lingle and was let go in 2006, said it appears she's flip flopped her position. Back in 2003, he said she was all for rail.

"I got my marching instructions to fully cooperate with city in their endeavor to provide a rail system. It was very clear to me," said Haraga.

The mayor didn't appear ruffled by lingle's decision to sign the petition.

"I've always said that's her right. I respect the initiative process," Hannemann said.

A rail opponent called the Mayor's move to bring forward the former state directors an act of desperation.

"It doesn't say anything at all because none of them are experts on transportation solutions," said Cliff Slater, founder of Honolulutraffic.com

He said let the people decide.

Hannemann believes if it goes to the voters, he will win.

The mayor said none of the former directors stand to gain financially from rail. He insists they will not be hired as consultants.

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