STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1311

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.C.R. No. 86

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 86 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO EXPEDITE ITS NEGOTIATIONS WITH HAWAII SUPERFERRY INC., AND REPORT BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Transportation (DOT) to expedite its negotiations with Hawaii Superferry, Inc., and report back to the Legislature on the results of the negotiations by April 1, 2005.

Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc., Hawaii Superferry, Inc., and ILWU Local 142 testified in support of this measure. DOT supported the intent of this measure.

Hawaii Superferry, Inc., is currently planning to begin operations of an interisland ferry service in 2006. However, numerous issues regarding the use of the State's harbors for the operation of this interisland passenger and freight ferry service remain unresolved and are currently being negotiated between DOT and Hawaii Superferry, Inc. Your Committee finds that to make informed decisions on any issue regarding the Hawaii Superferry, the Legislature must first receive all relevant information regarding the provision of this service and any expected, as well as, projected impacts of this service.

While your Committee understands that DOT is still in negotiation with Hawaii Superferry, Inc., expeditious completion of negotiations would greatly assist the Legislature in carrying out its duties. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging rather than requesting DOT to expeditiously conclude its negotiations with Hawaii Superferry, Inc.;

(2) Deleting the deadline of April 1, 2005, for conclusion of negotiations between DOT and Hawaii Superferry, Inc.;

(3) Requesting that the repayment schedule for any funding provided by DOT for Hawaii Superferry, Inc., be submitted in DOT's report to the Legislature; and

(4) Requesting that DOT withhold any funding for harbor improvements specifically intended for the accommodation of the Hawaii Superferry if all parties (including other harbor users) are not satisfied as to the outcome of the negotiations between DOT and Hawaii Supeferry, Inc.

Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

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.C.R. No. 86, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 86, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair