The City Council today deferred decision-making on a bill that would select non-steel wheel technology for a planned commuter train linking East Kapolei to Ala Moana.

That means Mayor Mufi Hannemann is free to push ahead with plans to use steel technology on the 20-mile, $3.7 billion mass transit system. Hannemann hopes to break ground late next year with the system opening in phases between 2012 and 2018.

The council has been debating for months whether the transit system should use steel wheels, rubber tires or magnetic levitation technology.

A city-appointed expert panel in February recommended the city choose steel technology. Steel is considered more reliable but noisy. Rubber and maglev are less tested but may be quieter.

Any bill that would select non-steel technology would face nearly insurmountable odds against becoming a law. That's because Hannemann has said he would veto any bill that doesn't select steel technology. And it seems unlikely the council could muster the six votes required to override such a veto.

Councilman Charles Djou, who opposes the project, lobbied for passage of the bill.

"I don't like the system to begin with. I think it's going to be too expensive (and) it's not going to hit the ridership numbers that are forecast," Djou said. However, "if we're going to do it, I would prefer for us to be looking at as many technologies as possible."

The train technology question is the last major council decision affecting the overall aesthetics, noise and costs of the system.

Reach Sean Hao at 525-8093 or shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.