Report Title:

Fixed Guideway Monorail; Kapolei to University

Description:

Requires department of transportation to review prior studies and plans regarding the construction and operation of a fixed guideway from Kapolei to the UH with a spur to Waikiki to determine availability of federal funding. Report to legislature and governor.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

699

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

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, due to the geographic characteristics of the island of Oahu, the historical development of communities and centers of business and commercial activity, and the more recent intentional development of West Oahu, traffic congestion between various points on Oahu has always been and continues to be a major problem. Various solutions have been proposed, among which is the concept of a fixed guideway employing a monorail carrying passengers between the area now known as Kapolei and the University of Hawaii, with a spur running to Waikiki.

The legislature further finds that the debate on whether to construct such a fixed guideway system has been drawn out for decades going back to the mid-1970s. In 1974, feasibility studies were published of fixed guideway systems using the Lunalilo freeway route from the Kapiolani interchange to Kalanianaole Highway and using the H-1 freeway route from Pearl City to Middle Street. Environmental impact statements have been published. In 1992, plans for Honolulu's rail transit system ended when voters declined to authorize an increase in the general excise tax to fund the rail system. Since then, the city and county of Honolulu has been promoting a rapid bus transit system combining trolleys and buses using a hub-and-spoke scheme. Recently, however, doubts about the rapid bus transit system have arisen and interest in a fixed guideway monorail system has been revived.

The purpose of this Act is to revisit the concept of constructing a fixed guideway monorail from Kapolei to the University of Hawaii, with a spur to Waikiki, and to determine the availability of federal funding for its possible construction.

SECTION 2. The department of transportation shall:

(1) Research and integrate previous relevant plans, environmental impact statements, and studies on feasibility, costs, funding mechanisms, and effectiveness of fixed guideway systems using a monorail to carry passengers on the Island of Oahu. The department shall place particular emphasis on routes from Kapolei to the University of Hawaii, with a spur to Waikiki;

(2) Determine the availability of federal funding for the construction of such a fixed guideway system;

(3) Detail the necessary legal, fiscal, and governmental steps and procedures that need to be taken to construct such a fixed guideway system;

(4) Recommend a specific approach for the State to take, including a system of priorities that need to be set and adhered to in order to construct such a fixed guideway system; and

(5) Report to the legislature and the governor its findings and recommendations no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2004.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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