The volume of rhetoric between supporters and opponents of Honolulu's rail system is picking up in advance of a Nov. 4 vote on the issue.

Yesterday both sides claimed the other is intentionally misleading the public about whether the city's $3.7 billion elevated commuter rail will qualify for federal aid.

The city is counting on $700 million to $948 million (in 2006 dollars) in federal money to help pay for the project, which would link East Kapolei to Ala Moana. However, Honolulu isn't expected to find out for sure how much federal funding it will get until 2011. Meanwhile, the city plans to start construction on the East Kapolei to Waipahu segment in December 2009.

The city has argued that a faster timetable will help reduce costs while allowing limited service to launch in late 2012. However, critics contend the city's timetable is not realistic and could result in a major burden for local taxpayers if federal funds don't come through as planned.

Yesterday, former Gov. Ben Cayetano joined the group Stop Rail Now in alleging that Hannemann has misled residents into thinking that federal funds are forthcoming.

"The city has been misrepresenting to the people that the federal government is going to provide $925 million for the project," said Cayetano, who opposes the rail system. "They're not even on the radar screen for the Federal Transit (Administration) yet."

Cayetano pointed to a recent e-mail from a Federal Transit Administration official stating that it's still unclear whether Honolulu will get federal funds.

"It is far too early to tell whether Honolulu's proposed rail project will receive New Starts funding," FTA spokesman Paul Griffo wrote in an Oct. 7 e-mail to a Stop Rail Now supporter. "The project hasn't yet been accepted into the New Starts Program."

City spokesman Bill Brennan yesterday said Honolulu remains in a strong position to attract federal money because the city plans to pay the majority of the project's costs. In addition, congressional officials have almost guaranteed the city will get federal support. That includes U.S. House Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, who during a March visit said Honolulu can count on about $900 million in federal money.

"There's absolutely no reason that any of that money will not be coming to us," Brennan said. "No, we don't have it today. We don't need it today. This is not the day in the process that we are supposed to have that money, but all indications point to us receiving something in that range."

Rhetoric over the proposed rail system is only likely to grow louder as each side of the debate attempts to rally support before the Nov. 4 vote on a proposed Honolulu Charter amendment that's likely to dictate the project's fate.

Cayetano yesterday said the project should be put on hold until the federal funds are approved.

"It's bad for the city to even think about construction in 2009 without approval and second, in this economic downturn we have to tread very carefully and third, I just want the people to get information that's not being managed or distorted," Cayetano said.

Brennan blamed project opponents for misleading the public.

"Desperate people say and do desperate things," he said. "This is just another cheap shot I think by the ex-governor and the Stop Rail Now folks to distort the truth of where the city's project stands with the federal government."