The city council voted against forming a public transit authority to control the project. But it did agree the people should be allowed to vote on the transit itself.

The Honolulu city council unanimously agreed the public should vote on the transit.

And answer this question:

Shall the powers, duties, and functions of the city, through its director of transportation services, include establishment of a rail mass transit system?

Now remember, Stop Rail Now! has been fighting for its own question. So the council decided, if that petition question does have enough signatures it will go on the ballot. If not, then the city council question will go before voters. Regardless only one transit question would be on the ballot.

"Whatever the question is it will be the final answer. If the vote is for the project we're going to move forward on the lines that we are right now. If the vote is against it the project will be dead.

There's just not going to be the support politically, locally, but more importantly the FTA is not going to fund a project when the voters have voted against it," said councilman Todd Apo.

"It's good in the sense that the public will have a question they can vote on. I think they definitely will have a choice, provided the mayor does not veto the question," said councilman Donavan Dela Cruz.

That's true, the mayor has 10 days to decide if he'll veto the question. He has said before his decision would be based on the language of the question.

Those in public testimony voiced how they want the mayor to respond.

"Mr. Mayor if you are listening think hard about the political fallout of casting a veto once the resolution passes," said Frank Ginatti.

The mayor has not announced a decision. But if he vetoes the ballot question, the council would not be able to over ride the veto because it is a resolution, not a bill.

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