The City Council decided last night to reconsider whether Honolulu's planned $3.7 billion mass transit system will use rubber wheels, steel wheels or no wheels.

The move comes about a month after a council committee had endorsed steel wheels on steel rail as the preferred technology.

The City Council voted unanimously to consider magnetic levitation, rubber on concrete and steel technology for the project.

The change follows concern that steel technology could cause noise problems for neighbors of the elevated commuter rail and possibly hurt property values.

By keeping the other technology options alive, "We will be able to look further (into) the implication of this technology," said Councilman Romy Cachola. "What it does is (allow us to see if) there is a better technology that works to address noise better, or (that's) not going to negatively impact property values."

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said while he was pleased the council voted 9-0 to advance the project, he was disappointed that it has not settled on a single technology.

"Tonight's vote means that rail is still moving forward," he said in a news release. "But it is a shame that the council could not support the process it voted to create."

Hannemann said he is confident steel technology will ultimately be chosen, and pointed out that 56 of 62 federally funded major transit projects since 1992 use steel wheels on steel tracks.

Steel wheel and rail was recommended by a council-appointed panel for its reliability, capability, cost and rider comfort. However, four of five panelists who made the recommendation in February also rated steel technology as the noisiest alternative compared with rubber on concrete, magnetic levitation and monorail technologies.

'NOT ALL NOISE ... EQUAL'

The council's vote followed nearly seven hours of testimony on issues such as the project's impact on noise, property values and traffic.

The proposed elevated rail would link East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center.

Some of the discussion focused on whether steel-on-steel technology could pose problems for some residents near the elevated tracks, where trains will pass at up to 55 mph about 400 times a day from 4 a.m. to midnight.

Mark Smith, vice president for Citizens Against Noise of Hawaii, urged the council to more thoroughly study the noise impacts of alternative technologies such as rubber tires on concrete, magnetic levitation and monorail before making a decision.

"Not all noise is created equal," he said. "The noise of steel wheels on steel rails makes a high-pitch noise that is particularly disconcerting.

"I don't think that anyone of us knows what will become of tourism in this island in our state if we install a rail system that is noisy. Are we willing to take that chance?"

Numerous testifiers felt the city should stick with steel technology.

"By selecting that independent panel I implore you to abide by their recommendation," said Honolulu real estate attorney Kenneth Wong. "I believe the steel rail technology is really a proven technology. It's really good for Honolulu."

Kurt Fevella of 'Ewa Beach agreed.

"We should stick with the professional panel because the majority of you guys chose the professional panel," he said. "We should move on already."

2009 TARGET

The City Council is expected to vote on the matter two more times. The next vote likely will come in early April, though no date has been set.

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

Steel-on-steel technology proponents contend that modern rail technology won't pose noise issues that cannot be mitigated.

Still, the city's consultant, New York-based Parsons Brinckerhoff, has identified steel technology as the noisiest alternative when compared with monorail and magnetic levitation technology in a May 2007 report. The consultant did not evaluate the potential noise impact of rubber-tired bus technology.

Steel-wheel-based train noise could be limited by building a 3- to 5-foot wall along the sides of the nearly 30-foot-high track, according to Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.