Mayor Mufi Hannemann yesterday said he will sign a recently passed city charter amendment that lets residents vote on plans to build an elevated commuter rail.

Wording for the November ballot item will be provided either by the City Council or the advocacy group Stop Rail Now.

The council measure asks voters whether the city should "establish a steel wheel on steel rail transit system." The council's wording will be placed on the ballot only if an ordinance supported by Stop Rail Now fails to make it into the November election.

Stop Rail Now's ballot issue reads: "Honolulu mass transit shall not include trains or rail."

The city clerk is in the process of verifying whether Stop Rail Now garnered enough valid signatures on petitions to put its anti-rail ordinance on the ballot.