Appropriates $       for FY 2005-2006 and $      for FY 2006-2007 to the DOT for operating costs of a contraflow lane on Kahekili Highway during peak hours.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is critical for Hawaii's highways and roads to accommodate traffic flows efficiently, safely, and quickly. The Kahekili highway is a critical road that serves as ingress and egress for a multitude of communities bridging windward and leeward Oahu. Motorists living in Kaneohe, Ahuimanu, Kaaawa, Kahaluu, Hauula, Laie, Kahuku, and all the way to the north shore of Oahu rely on Kahekili highway as a major route to the rest of the island of Oahu in their daily commutes to and from work and for other purposes. It has become apparent over the years that during peak traffic hours in the mornings and afternoons, traffic backs up for miles on Kahekili highway on the way to central Oahu and going back over the Koolau mountains. It has also become equally obvious that windward-bound traffic during peak hours is invariably sparse. Given these conditions, it is only logical to implement a contraflow traffic scheme wherein an existing windward-bound lane is reversed for town-bound use during peak morning traffic hours and one existing town-bound lane is reversed for windward-bound use during peak afternoon traffic hours.

The purpose of this Act is to implement a permanent contraflow lane scheme on the Kahekili highway during peak morning and afternoon traffic hours.

SECTION 2. The department of transportation shall implement a permanent contraflow lane traffic scheme on the Kahekili highway during peak morning and afternoon traffic hours so that one windward-bound lane is used for peak morning town-bound traffic and one town-bound lane is used for peak afternoon windward-bound traffic.

SECTION 3 There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the operating costs of a permanent contraflow traffic scheme on the Kahekili highway.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval except that section 3 shall become effective on July 1, 2005.