For the record: We still believe in rail transit for Honolulu, of its potential for mobility and ridership, despite the real problems the project has had being overbudget and overschedule.

It’s that very belief in rail — as sold to Oahu taxpayers in the early days — that now makes it imperative for federal investigators to dig deep into how construction got so off track. So it’s a relief that a $300,000 attempt to hire mainland lawyers for federally subpoenaed rail employees failed this week at the City Council. It would have been galling to open up a new money pit for legal fees.

Several employees or former employees of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation — it’s unknown exactly how many and who — have been subpoenaed for questioning by federal investigators. But when they sought to get help from the city’s Corporation Counsel, the city lawyers said they deal only with civil matters, not “federal criminal law,” and suggested outside counsel be hired. The $300,000 dig into city coffers would’ve been to hire a San Francisco law firm.

HART’s funds are restricted to rail construction, so can’t be used to hire outside lawyers. City attorneys will have to do. Weary taxpayers, who deserve the truth and accountability, echo the sentiments of one Council member who said, “it’s time to get rid of all the lawyers and let justice prevail.”