Requires DOT, in conjunction with both the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization and the City and County of Honolulu, to develop an action plan for implementation of a fixed rail transit system on Oahu. (SB464 HD2)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that traffic is intolerable in downtown Honolulu, especially during morning and evening rush hours. At the present rate of growth and development, the transportation needs of Honolulu commuters will soon exceed the capabilities of the existing highway system. Many solutions have been proposed to address peak rush hour traffic congestion, but so far no wide-scale traffic alleviation measures have been implemented.

The legislature also finds that action must be taken to address the traffic congestion and other transportation-related problems of Oahu. In 1992, the city and county of Honolulu explored the feasibility of developing a fixed rail system to ease Oahu's traffic congestion. After a lengthy period of study and planning, however, the project was not approved by the Honolulu city council.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of transportation to develop an action plan for the implementation of a fixed rail transit system.

SECTION 2. The department of transportation, in conjunction with both the Oahu metropolitan planning organization and the city and county of Honolulu, shall develop an action plan for the implementation of a fixed rail transit system for Oahu, describing:

The department shall submit the completed action plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2004.