When Mayor Mufi Hannemann asked a University of Hawai'i-Manoa audience yesterday how many of them support the proposed mass transit system for O'ahu, most of the 150 or so people there raised their hands.

Hannemann welcomed the informal poll as he fielded questions on the latest plans for a mass transit system for O'ahu. Earlier plans called for the route to run from Kapolei to UH-Manoa, but Hannemann's commitment to limit costs to about $3 billion means that the initial line will be shorter.

Sean Connelly, an architecture student, said he backs the transit plan even if it doesn't initially reach all the way to UH. "It's important that we have a guideline to follow," he said.

Connelly said the only available public transit — TheBus — is too time-consuming for his needs. He thinks city engineers should be planning for a variety of traffic improvements rather than simply forging ahead with more big housing projects in West O'ahu.

"I feel they're pushing the development of Kapolei too quickly," Connelly said. "It's kind of like they're supporting the problem."

Hannemann he said he was encouraged by the initial response. "Today is an indication of a groundswell of support that's building. I welcome that big-time."

Hannah Miyamoto, a transportation engineer working on a graduate degree in sociology, asked Hannemann to consider running a rail line onto the UH-Manoa campus instead of only to the Stan Sheriff arena or to University Avenue near Puck's Alley.

Miyamoto suggested that building a transit system at ground level instead of with elevated tracks could be "easier to build and cheaper." City transportation engineer Toru Hamayasu said study after study has shown that is not feasible.

Michelle Jaffe, a graduate student in urban and regional planning, said the plan looks as if it would help West O'ahu commuters but that "it's not very efficient if you do live in town."

Hannemann replied that he hears regularly from Leeward residents who deal with daily gridlock and that the city needs to lessen their burden as it encourages more growth in that region.

City officials hope to present a preferred alternative recommendation on some form of transit improvement to the City Council by Nov. 1. The council will make the final selection on a new transit system.

The city hopes to have some decisions made before the new tax surcharge to help pay for transit takes effect on Jan. 1. Officials hope to begin construction by 2009 and have the first leg of a system running as early as 2012.

The city expects to receive $150 million annually from the excise tax surcharge. The city also is requesting substantial federal transit money.

Retired bookkeeper and office manager Lynne Beckstrom yesterday said she was disappointed that the mayor didn't ask how many at the lunchtime gathering would ride transit. "It would have been interesting to find out how many of them would ride it," she said. "They want other people to get on it."

The Pauoa resident said there needs to be more analysis of the maintenance cost and ways to make the system self-sustaining.

Hannemann said he wanted to hear from those who attended the meeting. He said he had yet to receive a letter, call or e-mail from someone who lives in the UH-Manoa community.

He said he's focusing on this issue because he believes worsening traffic is O'ahu's biggest quality-of-life issue.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.