Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.R. No. 73 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to address the long-range transportation plans for the island of Hawaii and mitigate any future traffic congestion problems by requesting the Department of Transportation (DOT) to conduct a study to determine the economic feasibility of constructing a fixed rail system around the island of Hawaii.

DOT testified in opposition to this measure.

The island of Hawaii still features wide-open spaces. The continued development of the island, along with an increasing population, is sure to lead to traffic congestion problems in the future. The available land appears to make the construction of a fixed rail system a feasible endeavor and one which would fit in with the broader, long-range planning for the County of Hawaii.

Your Committee notes that DOT is currently reviewing its Long Range Land Transportation Plan for the island of Hawaii and is scheduled to complete the review in 2003 and submit its report to the Legislature in 2004. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 73, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 73, H.D. 1.