WHEREAS, Hawaii is an island state with limited resources and land to accommodate uncontrolled growth, especially of our roadway systems; and

WHEREAS, the scenic beauty, diverse ecosystems, and vibrant environment of Hawaii not only make these islands a tropical paradise but also are responsible for attracting millions of tourists to our shores each year; and

WHEREAS, increases in both the driving population and automobile use threaten to have devastating impacts upon Hawaii's fragile ecosystem, especially if roadways throughout the state reach their automobile carrying capacities; and

WHEREAS, "automobile carrying capacity" has most often been defined as the maximum traffic flow obtainable on a given roadway, using all available lanes, usually expressed in vehicles per hour or vehicles per day; and

WHEREAS, Oahu is the most burdened of the four counties with 501,260 licensed drivers and 613,119 registered vehicles in 1991 increasing to 542,244 licensed drivers and 631,232 registered vehicles in 2001, all while attempting to use approximately 1,600 miles of roadway; and

WHEREAS, these increasing numbers translate into more severe traffic congestion affecting more of the transportation network, accounting for an average annual delay of 62 hours during peak road travel times; and

WHEREAS, if a solution for Hawaii's traffic problems is not found soon, especially on the Island of Oahu, the issue of gridlock may become a reality, not only having an adverse effect on the environment but on the economy as well; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the Governor is requested to establish a five-member commission to review the transportation plan for and determine the carrying capacity of Oahu's roadways; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Transportation, the Director of the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, and the Policy Committee of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Report Title:

Requesting the Governor to appoint and convene a five-member commission to determine the carrying capacity of the roadways on the Island of Oahu.