Report Title:

Castle Junction; Capacity Study; Appropriation

Description:

Directs the department of transportation to study the capacity of Castle Junction to handle traffic and submit findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature by 12/31/2005. Appropriates funds.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1400

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to traffic.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is critical for Hawaii's highways and roads to accommodate traffic flows efficiently, safely, and quickly. There are several important traffic junctions that serve as ingress and egress for multiple communities. A prime example is Castle junction in windward Oahu, upon which communities from Waimanalo and Kailua to the east and south, and Kaneohe, Ahuimanu, Kahaluu, Hauula, Laie, and Kahuku up to the north shore of Oahu, rely as a major route to the rest of the island of Oahu. As the landslides in 2004 along the slopes of the Pali highway at Castle junction -– and the concomitant period of repair -– demonstrated, Castle junction is absolutely critical to handling traffic flows for all these communities.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of transportation to perform a definitive traffic capacity study of Castle junction.

SECTION 2. The director of transportation shall undertake a traffic capacity study of Castle junction. The report shall include all factors the director deems appropriate and relevant, such as:

(1) Communities and areas of Oahu affected;

(2) Population densities and growth of those communities;

(3) Patterns and changes in traffic flows and densities;

(4) Peak and off-peak usage and flows under varying conditions including seasonal and weather considerations;

(5) Peak carrying capacity of Castle junction and the surrounding feeder highways and roads; and

(6) Any other factors the director deems relevant.

The director shall submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the governor and the legislature no later than December 31, 2005, including any necessary proposed legislation to implement the study's recommendations.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the traffic capacity study of Castle junction.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval, except that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:

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