More than 300 people representing about 100 companies attended a workshop yesterday to learn more about the city's proposed rail transit system and the opportunities to work on the $3.7 billion project.

The workshop was held at the Neal Blaisdell Center and outlined the project's schedule, as well as the work that would be available to designers, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. The event also gave company representatives a chance to begin putting together teams for various contracts associated with the project.

Jennifer Russell of project consultant Parsons Brinckerhoff said about 10 large Mainland firms took part in the workshop, but most were companies from the islands.

Russell said the all-day workshop provided a good opportunity for the bigger companies and smaller Hawai'i contractors to "connect hands" so they'll be ready to put together packages when the city is begins to accept contract proposals.

"The way the project is, it's broken up into segments that are manageable by one general contractor. But the scope of some of them is larger than some of the larger firms here on the island are used to handling," Russell said.

The city wants to break ground on the 20-mile elevated rail system in 2009. The project is expected to create about 11,000 jobs.

One of the large Mainland firms that attended yesterday's workshop was URS Corp., a San Francisco-based engineering company with experience in light-rail design. URS has 50,000 employees worldwide and has an office in Honolulu.

Mindy Steckmest, URS Corp. project manager, said her company "definitely has a lot of interest in this project."

"It's getting to be known nationwide in the transit arena," Steckmest said. "We do design in all facets, but we do have expertise in light-rail design. We would team with the contractor and come in as the lead engineer."

URS sent her to the workshop to find out more about the project, as well as meet with representatives from local companies. She said her company believes the rail project can work in Honolulu.

"It looks like the city and county has done a great job of doing their homework and doing all of the upfront work, so it certainly looks doable," she said.

Rich Moran, president of Waipahu-based Corrosion Cops, said he attended the workshop to find out if the project's design will address corrosion prevention, as well as the impact seismic activity will have on the system. Corrosion Cops has been in business here since 1992.

Moran said these two issues need to be addressed in the design phase of the project. He believes the services of his company will be needed as the project moves forward, particularly if the proposed "steel-on-steel" technology is used.

"I believe with the technology that we offer that we will be an integral part of it," Moran said. "It's not a fact of whether or not we need it because corrosion is something that occurs in the state of Hawai'i on an ongoing basis. Federal government studies have shown that for $1 invested in corrosion prevention, results in a $23 savings in cost avoidance."

Moran added that the city was wise to put together yesterday's workshop.

"They're calling on the community as a whole to get the best minds together and by doing that the bottom line is going to be longevity, which the people really need in Hawai'i," he said. "We don't want another Aloha Stadium."

Yesterday's workshop for the contractors was the first of several planned by the city and Parsons Brinckerhoff.