A campaign to put an anti-rail initiative on the ballot kicked off yesterday at Honolulu Hale with about 50 supporters.

Chanting "Stop rail now" and carrying signs with messages such as "Fix the sewers; flush the train," the group hopes to collect 40,000 signatures of registered voters by Aug. 1.

The newly formed group, Stop Rail Now, said the public has a right to vote on whether the city should proceed with the $3.7 billion rail project, which would be the largest public works project in state history. They want the city to explore nonrail road-construction projects that can reduce traffic congestion.

"We are not opposed to mass transit," said Dennis Callan, co-chairman of Stop Rail Now (www.stoprailnow.com). "We are in favor of better solutions for our traffic problems" such as freeway viaducts and managed traffic lanes.

Rail proponents contend there's limited federal money available for new road construction. Additionally, current law prevents money collected from a state transit tax from being used for road construction or bus rapid transit.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann hopes to start construction on the 20-mile commuter rail late next year. The system would open in phases between 2012 and 2018.

The anti-rail ballot effort was anticipated by city officials.

"From the very beginning, opponents of transit have talked about this," said city spokesman Bill Brennan yesterday in an e-mail response. "It's not really anything new."

The rail project is being financed by a half-percentage-point surcharge to the excise tax for O'ahu residents that started in January 2007. The tax is expected to raise about $160 million a year for 15 years. City officials estimate the surcharge adds about $365 to household bills, or $1 a day. The Tax Foundation of Hawai'i estimates the average household cost at about $450 annually.

"The increased (general excise) tax is totally ridiculous," said Waikiki resident Helen Carroll at Honolulu Hale yesterday. "I'm self-employed, and this is extra money that I'm putting out."

Hawai'i Kai resident and Stop Rail Now supporter Jeff Lohr said the city should pump that money into near-term, flexible transit alternatives such as TheBus.

"It' going to take 10 years to get this thing built, so (traffic) is going to be a mess for 10 more years," he said. And, "If you live out there in Hawai'i Kai, (the train) won't help you. It doesn't go there," he said.