STAND. COM. REP. NO.  133

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 923

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 923 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to provide for greater efficiency in the movement of people through a public transit system by allowing larger articulated buses to operate on public roadways.

 

     The Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association, Soderholm Sales & Leasing, Inc., Hawaii Transportation Association, STAR of HONOLULU Tours and Events, Royal Star Hawaii Transportation, and Charley's Taxi testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Transportation Services (DTS) of the City and County of Honolulu testified in opposition to this measure.

 

     The use of mass transit has been growing in Hawaii over the past few years.  While Honolulu has long had one of the best rated public transportation systems in the nation, the neighbor islands have only recently begun developing and using mass transit systems.  Allowing for the use of larger articulated buses on public roadways will create greater capacity for the movement of people through these systems and hopefully relieve some traffic congestion.

 

     While your Committee understands the concerns raised by DTS that the City and County of Honolulu may not be able to accommodate such large vehicles, the neighboring counties may be able to utilize such vehicles to their advantage.  This legislation simply enables a public transit provider to use larger vehicles and does not require the use of these vehicles.

 

     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 H.B. No. 923 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair