The City Council is moving closer to selecting steel rail technology for a planned commuter line linking east Kapolei to Ala Moana Center.

The Committee on Transportation and Public Works yesterday voted 4-1 to accept the recommendation of a city-appointed expert panel that found steel wheels and rail technology best suited for the proposed $3.7 billion mass transit system.

The city wants to decide on the type of vehicle before drafting an environmental impact statement and applying for federal transit money. Mayor Mufi Hannemann hopes to break ground on the project in 2009, with the first segment starting service between East Kapolei and Waipahu in 2012.

The committee spent four hours discussing various transit systems, including rubber tires on concrete, magnetic levitation and monorail technologies.

Committee chairman Nestor Garcia prefaced the discussion by noting that the council's decision to build a "fixed guideway" commute rail was driven by a decline in federal money to build highways. In addition, state law prevents the use of a transit surcharge to pay for bus rapid transit systems, he said.

Some board members and numerous testifiers opposed the council's decision to build a steel rail-based mass-transit system. Concerns expressed included the project's estimated $3.7 billion price tag and its limited impact on traffic congestion.

"I understand if you are a proponent of this steel on steel," said council member Charles Djou, who voted against steel technology. "I think this whole system however does not make sense."

Steel wheel and rail was recommended by virtue of its capability, cost and rider comfort, according to Ron Tober, chairman of a five-member panel tasked with evaluating the four technology alternatives. The panel delivered its decision to the council last Friday.

Council members Garcia, Todd Apo, Rod Tam and Gary Okino voted in favor of steel technology.

"That's the only one that makes sense," said Okino. "This was an unbiased, objective panel of international experts that had nothing to gain from a biased selection."

The council is expected to vote on the matter three more times with the next public hearing scheduled for March 19.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.