STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1362

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1042

      S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 1042, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to provide an environmentally friendly strategy for the lighting of Hawaii's streets, highways, and harbors by requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT), to the extent practicable, to comply with county ordinances and standards relating to outdoor lighting for all new installations at Hawaii's airports, harbors, and highways.

 

The University of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  DOT supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Artificial lighting is increasing on all of the major Hawaiian Islands as metropolitan centers increase.  These increases in artificial light, especially from light sources at Hawaii's airports, harbors, and along the highways, now threaten the ability of the telescopes along Mauna Kea and Haleakala to study the night sky.  Your Committee finds that DOT's compliance with county lighting ordinances, along with the use of fully- shielded lighting fixtures, will conserve energy and resources while maintaining appropriate outdoor lighting suitable for safety, utility, and security.  Moreover, these fully-shielded lighting fixtures are environmentally friendly and are currently in use on the H3 freeway.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1042, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair