REPORT TITLE:
Mass-transit System


DESCRIPTION:
Provides for the planning and development of a mass-transit
system called the Honolulu Blue Lava Tube Integrated System
(HBLT).


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                            1386        
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that motorists traveling
 
 2 along Oahu's roadways frequently face heavy traffic volumes and
 
 3 high frequency of accidents, particularly during the morning and
 
 4 evening rush hours.  Traffic congestion along these roadways not
 
 5 only result in delays and scheduling inconveniences for
 
 6 motorists, but also contribute to serious health hazards, such as
 
 7 air pollution and other airborne diseases.
 
 8      The legislature further finds that despite concerted efforts
 
 9 by the department of transportation to ease Oahu's traffic
 
10 congestion, including:
 
11      (1)  The H-3 freeway;
 
12      (2)  The Zipper lane;
 
13      (3)  TheBus;
 
14      (4)  Vanpool Hawaii; and
 
15      (5)  Road expansions,
 
16 Oahu's citizens continue to face severe traffic.
 
17      The legislature also finds that one viable long-term
 
18 solution to Oahu's traffic congestion problem would be to
 
19 develop, construct, and operate a mass-transit system.  A mass-
 
20 transit system on Oahu would:
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (1)  Reduce the number of cars on roadways;
 
 2      (2)  Decrease commuting time for motorists; and
 
 3      (3)  Reduce carbon dioxide emissions which contribute to
 
 4           global warming.
 
 5      The legislature further finds that as part of an island-
 
 6 state, Oahu's communities are extremely sensitive to the
 
 7 environmental impact of any major construction project, such as a
 
 8 mass-transit system.  The legislature recognizes the need to
 
 9 balance transportation efficiency with environmental
 
10 conservation.
 
11      As such, the legislature finds that a combined suspended
 
12 light-rail transit system and solar-powered grid, to be known as
 
13 the Honolulu blue lava tube integrated system (HBLT), would be
 
14 the ideal mass transit system because it combines advanced
 
15 energy-saving and transportation technology.  Not only would HBLT
 
16 transport commuters, but it would also integrate Oahu's utility
 
17 lines into its overall skeletal infrastructure.  As an integrated
 
18 system, HBLT would structurally encompass:
 
19      (1)  A suspended light-rail transit system; and
 
20      (2)  All major utility lines, which may include:
 
21           (A)  Cable lines;
 
22           (B)  Fiberoptic lines;
 

 
 
 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1           (C)  Super-conducting transmission lines;
 
 2           (D)  Telephone lines; and
 
 3           (E)  Potable/non-potable watermains.
 
 4 The HBLT would be an energy-saving and space-efficient integrated
 
 5 system to move Oahu's communities into the twenty-first century.
 
 6      The purpose of this Act is to:
 
 7      (1)  Create a commission within the department of
 
 8           transportation to oversee the planning and development
 
 9           of the HBLT; and
 
10      (2)  Appropriate funds for the planning and development of
 
11           the HBLT.
 
12      SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department
 
13 of transportation for administrative purposes the Honolulu blue
 
14 lava tube integrated system project commission, consisting of
 
15       members appointed by the governor.
 
16      (b)  The members of commission shall serve without
 
17 compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including
 
18 travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.
 
19      (c)  The commission's objective is to prepare a
 
20 comprehensive project plan to find ways to finance, construct,
 
21 operate, and maintain the HBLT as a permanent mass-transit
 
22 integrated system on Oahu.
 

 
 
 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      To achieve this objective, the commission may:
 
 2      (1)  Hire consultants to assist in the preparation of the
 
 3           project plan;
 
 4      (2)  Coordinate with:
 
 5           (A)  The city and county of Honolulu;
 
 6           (B)  The Honolulu Board of Water Supply;
 
 7           (C)  Hawaiian Electric Industries;
 
 8           (D)  GTE Hawaiian Tel;
 
 9           (E)  Oceanic Cable; and
 
10           (F)  Other relevant public or private interests;
 
11           and
 
12      (3)  Hire professional lobbyists to secure federal funding
 
13           from:
 
14           (A)  The U.S. Department of Energy for a $3.5 billion
 
15                grant to construct the solar grid;
 
16           (B)  The U.S. Department of Transportation for a 1:4
 
17                matching fund $5 billion grant to construct the
 
18                light-rail mass transit system; and
 
19           (C)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a
 
20                $320.0 million grant for greenbelt recovery.
 
21      SECTION 3.  Prior to the convening of the regular session of
 
22 2000, the commission shall submit to the legislature a report of
 
23 its findings and recommendations.  The report shall include but
 
24 not be limited to:
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      (1)  An in-depth evaluation of the HBLT system, including a
 
 2           list of recommendations and action items required to
 
 3           enact the system;
 
 4      (2)  A cost-benefits analysis of the HBLT system;
 
 5      (3)  A financing plan with a proportionate breakdown of
 
 6           needed federal funding, state funding, and private
 
 7           funding to construct, operate, and maintain the HBLT;
 
 8           and
 
 9      (4)  Proposed relevant legislation.
 
10 The commission shall cease to exist on June 30, 2000.
 
11      SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
12 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $      or so much
 
13 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 to
 
14 facilitate the activities of the Honolulu blue lava tube
 
15 integrated system project commission.
 
16      The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of
 
17 transportation for the purposes of this Act.
 
18      SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.
 
19 
 
20                           INTRODUCED BY:_________________________