The City Council should "call the question" of whether to build a $3.7 billion rail system by putting the issue on the Nov. 4 general election ballot, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said today.

Because the City Clerk now says an anti-rail petition drive will not qualify for the November ballot, Aiona said there is certain to be litigation "that will distract from what the real issue is."

"It's distracting to our citizens and divisive to the citizens of Honolulu County," Aiona said. "The people of O'ahu should have the final say."

Aiona said he does not yet have an opinion on rail, but wants to be able to vote on the issue as a "citizen" of O'ahu.