STAND. COM. REP. NO.  625

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1378

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1378 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Transportation for the planning and procurement for construction of secondary access roads for the Waianae district of leeward Oahu.

 

     Ho'omana Pono, LLC., and many concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Transportation supported the intent of this measure.  One concerned individual opposed this measure.  Two concerned individuals provided comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that Farrington Highway is not only the major roadway on Oahu's Leeward Coast, it is also the sole access route that links the Waianae district to Ewa and points east, including metropolitan Honolulu.  Although West Oahu has experienced exponential growth and development over the last 20 years, transportation infrastructure has not kept pace.  There is a need for alternative routes along the Waianae Coast, as the traffic volume on Farrington Highway leaves Leeward residents facing heavy traffic congestion, and being more vulnerable to harm in an emergency situation, as there is no alternative route for emergency vehicles to use during times when Farrington Highway is impassable. 

     Your Committee notes that should an alternative route be developed, any project to alleviate traffic congestion on Oahu's west side must first avoid exacerbating the congestion with ongoing lane closures or other disruptions caused by road construction.  It is critical that any project to supply alternate transportation corridors must minimize or altogether avoid creating additional transportation barriers for residents of West Oahu.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the provisions requiring the Department of Transportation to:

 

          (A)  Procure services to construct secondary access roads for the Waianae district of Oahu; and

 

          (B)  Report to the Legislature on the progress of complying with this measure; and

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion.

 

     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. 1378, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1378, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair