Report Title:

Water Ferry; Action Plan by DOT

 

Description:

Requires the department of transportation to develop an action plan for the implementation of an intra-island water ferry transportation system on Oahu. (SD2)

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1366

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the traffic situation in downtown Honolulu, especially during morning and evening rush hours, has become intolerable. At the present rate of growth and development, the transportation needs of Honolulu commuters will soon exceed the capabilities of the existing highway system. Many solutions have been proposed to address peak rush hour traffic congestion, including the establishment of high occupancy vehicle lanes on portions of the highways, the development of a fixed rail system, expanded bus service, ridesharing, telecommuting, and shifting the population and jobs in Honolulu from the downtown area to the secondary urban center. Despite these efforts, however, the traffic congestion in Honolulu persists.

The legislature further finds that action must be taken to address the traffic congestion and other transportation-related problems for Oahu. An intra-island water ferry transportation system for Oahu is one alternative that might be able to:

(1) Reduce traffic congestion;

(2) Delay the need for costly expansion of the H-1 freeway and other routes; and

(3) Promote tourism to the extent that transportation is facilitated.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of transportation to develop an action plan for the implementation of an intra-island water ferry transportation system.

SECTION 2. The department of transportation shall develop an action plan for the implementation of an intra-island water ferry transportation system for Oahu, describing site selection and feasibility, structure of the ferry operations and facility development, economic analyses and financing, permits and approvals, and design and construction. The department shall submit the plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2002 regular session.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3001.