Mayor Mufi Hannemann's call for a panel of five national transportation experts to decide what type of vehicle should run on Honolulu's planned mass transit system moved ahead yesterday despite some sharp criticism.

City Council backers said creating such a panel would insulate the decision from lobbying and political influence as companies maneuver for lucrative deals on the $5 billion project, the city's largest and most expensive ever.

But opponents said the arrangement would shirk the council's responsibility and shield the decision from voter accountability, while creating more opportunities for special interest influence.

The council's transportation committee advanced the plan, and it appears to have enough support to win final approval by the full council next month.

Hannemann called for the expert panel two weeks ago at a city-sponsored transportation symposium, after months of council bickering over whether the transit system should feature trains on steel rails or another type of vehicle.

The issue must be resolved before an environmental impact statement for the project can be completed and allow construction to begin. Hannemann hopes to break ground by 2009.

"This is such a big project, everyone is going to be subject to lobbying and false information," said Councilman Gary Okino, who voted to create the panel. "The beauty of this is, it takes the decision out of the hands of the council, but also out of the hands of the administration."

Councilman Charles Djou, who opposes the transit plan and has often clashed with Hannemann, voted in opposition.

"This panel is an attempt to give a fig leaf of legitimacy to a process that has been a farce so far," he said, noting that the council has not been told the names of any experts to be appointed to the panel.

Top city transit planner Toru Hamayasu said such information would be provided before the final council vote on Dec. 12 to authorize the panel. The experts will be reputable and have no financial ties to companies that could bid on the project, he said.

Hamayasu estimated the city would spend $20,000 on each of the panel's five members. The money would pay for their time, background materials and one trip each to Honolulu.

Council chairwoman Barbara Marshall and transportation chairman Nestor Garcia would each choose one of the panel's five members. Hannemann would choose two, and the combined four members would choose the fifth. Marshall opposes the plan, while Garcia favors it. Djou complained that the process would freeze out all other council members.

The 34-mile transit system is to run from Kapolei to Ala Moana, with spurs to Waikiki and Manoa.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.