HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

164

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the mayor of the city and county of honolulu, honolulu city council, and honolulu authority for rapid transportation to find a means to fund the construction of the park-and-ride garage at waiawa station and urging the department of transportation services of the city and county of honolulu to establish additional transit services between central oahu and waiawa station.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, the original plan for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project called for twenty miles of rail, resulting in twenty-one stations, and twenty four-car trains traveling from East Kapolei through downtown Honolulu to Ala Moana Center; and

 

     WHEREAS, a significant shortfall between projected revenues and construction expenses for the original plan necessitated the submission of a financial recovery plan from the City and County of Honolulu, to the Federal Transit Administration for approval and receipt of federal grant funds necessary to complete the project; and

 

     WHEREAS, the financial recovery plan was approved by the Federal Transit Authority in September 2022; and

 

     WHEREAS, the financial recovery plan reduces the length of the project from twenty miles of rail to roughly 18.75 miles, ultimately reducing the number of stations from twenty-one to nineteen; and

 

     WHEREAS, in addition, the financial recovery plan also deferred the construction of a park-and-ride garage at Waiawa Station in Pearl Highlands that was estimated to accommodate one thousand six hundred vehicles; and

 

     WHEREAS, the lack of this park-and-ride garage at Waiawa Station will greatly limit the utility of the rail transit line for Central Oahu residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, in December 2019, the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization completed the Central Oahu Transportation Study to address traffic congestion and long commute times in Central Oahu; and

 

     WHEREAS, the study identified several possible transportation projects to connect Central Oahu communities to the Waiawa Station under the assumption that the park-and-ride garage would be available; and

 

     WHEREAS, the study specifically recommended expanding TheBus service in Central Oahu and establishing bus rapid transit lines from Waiawa Station to Mililani and Central Oahu; and

 

     WHEREAS, the park-and-ride garage at Waiawa Station is critical for Central Oahu residents, as it would increase usage of the rail and reduce traffic congestion and the commute time for many residents across the State; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu City Council, and Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation are urged to find a means to fund the construction of the park-and-ride garage at Waiawa Station of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation Services is urged to establish additional transit services between Central Oahu and Waiawa Station; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu is requested to submit a report detailing the progress made on the establishment of additional transit services between Central Oahu and Waiawa Station to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, each member of the Honolulu City Council, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Executive Director of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, and chairpersons of the Pearl City Neighborhood Board No. 21, Waipahu Neighborhood Board No. 22, Mililani/Waipio/Melemanu Neighborhood Board No. 25, and Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Neighborhood Board No. 35.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Honolulu Rail Transit; Waiawa Station; Ride-and-park Garage; Transit Services; Funding