Nearly half of O'ahu's residents claim they would use a rail transit system if it were built, according to a new survey paid for by the city's Department of Transportation Services.

The survey shows there is strong support for a fixed guideway mass transit system favored by the administration and now being considered by the City Council, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said yesterday.

"The results are consistent across the island and in every council district that rail is the first choice of people considering a new transit system," Hannemann said.

The survey of 900 residents was conducted between Oct. 27 and Nov. 6, mostly after the city announced its recommendation to spend between $3.6 billion and $4.8 billion on a rail project that could extend from Kalaeloa to Manoa.

Asked to choose between four alternatives being considered by the City Council, residents preferred rail by about a 2-to-1 margin over increased bus service or managed toll lanes for buses and autos.

While half of those responding said they would use rail, the potential ridership increased to 56 percent when people were asked if someone in their household would use rail, Hannemann said.

Respondents were about evenly split when asked which of two proposed route choices they preferred. Forty-one percent would like to see a rail system end at Ala Moana Center, while 38 percent endorsed the costlier option that would run to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

While the questions about routes did not specifically include mention of the $3.6 billion and $4.8 billion price tags for the two alternatives, most residents said they were aware that the general excise tax would increase in January and the revenue would be used to pay for rail.

Hannemann said he was encouraged to find that rail had support in all nine City Council districts. The biggest support (71 percent) came in the Kalihi-Salt Lake-Aliamanu-Foster Village area represented by Transportation Chairman Romy Cachola and the 'Ewa-Kapolei-Wai'anae-Makua area represented by Todd Apo.

The lowest level of support (31 percent) was found in the Hawai'i Kai-Kahala-Diamond Head District represented by Charles Djou, an opponent of the rail proposals.

Meanwhile, Hannemann yesterday lashed out at Djou and Council Chairman Donavan Dela Cruz for scheduling a bill (No. 83) that could delay implementation of a tax increase meant to pay for the rail, which will be the largest public works project in the state's history.

"Bill 83 is ludicrous and a sham and will kill rail," Hannemann said. "It's just an unnecessary waste of taxpayer money."

Dela Cruz last night said he believes the bill should have a first reading before the full council and then be referred to committee, following the normal procedure for most measures.

"I really think the mayor should trust the council and the legislative process," he said. "It's important to hear all points of view."

The council will meet Dec. 7 for the second of three readings of the main transit bill, Dela Cruz said. The council is expected to have a final decision on rail by the end of the year.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.