Anti-rail advocates have a variety of reasons for opposing the city's plan to build a 20-mile elevated train connecting East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center.

Some oppose the project for tax reasons, or cost concerns. Others argue the planned commuter rail line won't relieve traffic congestion.

Regardless of their reasons, much of the organized anti-rail effort is linked to or supported by Slater and Evans.

So, is the effort driven by a small, but vocal, minority? Or is the anti-rail effort reflective of a larger sentiment against the project?

The answer will be clear when anti-rail advocates succeed or fail to get the 40,000 signatures of registered voters they need to put the issue on the November ballot.

That petition drive is co-chaired by physician Michael Uechi and Dennis Callan. However, the group's Web site, www.stoprailnow.com, is registered to Slater. Stop Rail Now's original business address was the same as Charley's Taxi.

Slater, founder of Maui Divers Jewelry, also opposed Honolulu's failed rail project in the 1990s.

"It's kind of logical that anybody who wants to do something is going to want to talk to us," said Slater. "We've been at it a lot longer."

Slater and Evans said their efforts would not have gotten this far if their message didn't resonate with a significant portion of the population. Honolulutraffic .com claims a registered user base of 400 people. The ballot petition has gathered about 3,000 signatures in less than two weeks, Slater added.

"It's not like we're doing this all on our own," Slater said.

IMPACT ON ROADWORK

Studies show the transit system won't prevent traffic along the H-1 Freeway corridor from worsening, caused in part by population growth in West O'ahu.

However, the rail system would give commuters an alternative to travel on congested roadways while reducing urban sprawl. The 19 planned transit stations also are expected to foster live-work-play communities and opportunities for moderately priced, high-density housing.

A new, effective mass-transit system also could result in fewer customers and less business for some road-based transportation businesses such as taxi services. Evans, of Charley's Taxi, said that's not why she opposes the project.

Evans said she is concerned the project's high cost will preclude the the city from making needed road and bus system improvements.

"Rail is not the highest and best use of public funds," she said.

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.

Anti-rail groups are arrayed against a host of parties pushing for the massive public works project, including Mayor Mufi Hannemann, construction trade unions, real estate developers and others. Neighborhood boards have taken varying positions for and against the project.

Slater said his group is not associated with other Internet sites that express an anti-rail opinion including www.zeroshibai.com and www.therailscam.com. The ownership of both of those Web sites is obscured because they're registered through third-party services.

Slater and Evans are joined by another rail opponent, Panos Prevedouros, a University of Hawai'i transportation engineering professor. Prevedouros also is president of Hawaii Highway Users Alliance, which advocates for rail alternatives such as high-occupancy traffic lanes, overpasses and traffic signal optimization.

'BETTER SOLUTIONS'

The three have been pivotal in the anti-rail effort. However, even anti-rail advocates don't always agree.

"They call all of us anti-rail," Prevedouros said. "There isn't universal agreement, but all these folks, for various reasons, have realized there are better solutions.

"They pursue their own paths, but all the paths are convergent."

In several instances those paths converge at Charley's Taxi. The Hawaii Highway Users Alliance, which is composed of transportation, asphalt and cement companies, auto dealers and others, was founded by Evans. In addition, both the Hawaii Highway Users Alliance and the parent company for www.honolulutraffic.com share the same business address as Charley's Taxi.

Evans said she provided a few hundred dollars in seed money and other support to anti-rail groups. Those groups provide a public service by providing a venue for coordinated rail opposition, she said.

Rail proponents, meanwhile, have the benefit of the city's support. The city spent $1.4 million from August 2005 through February 2008 on a variety of project education and publicity efforts, including holding several hundred community updates, a weekly radio show, a monthly TV show, regular publication of a project newsletter and maintaining a project Web site.

The rail opponents say their effort is run by volunteers, trying to balance the city's public relations campaign.

"The highway users don't have a voice," Evans said. "Why shouldn't we have a voice. The (mayor) is voicing what he considers the transit needs."