Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1366, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Transportation to develop an action plan for the implementation of an intra-island water ferry transportation system.

Specifically, this bill directs the Department to describe site selection and feasibility, the structure of the ferry operations and facility development, economic analyses and financing, permits and approvals, and design and construction, and to submit the action plan to the Legislature prior to the convening of the 2002 Regular Session.

Your Committee finds that the traffic situation in downtown Honolulu has become intolerable, and that action must be taken to address traffic congestion and other transportation-related problems on Oahu. Your Committee finds that an intra-island water ferry transportation system is one alternative that may be able to reduce traffic congestion, delay the need for costly expansion of the H-1 freeway and other routes, and promote tourism to the extent that transportation is facilitated.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1366, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1366, S.D. 2.