Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Government Operations and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 57 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to improve the synchronization of traffic signals on Ala Moana Boulevard between Punchbowl Street and Kalakaua Avenue, and to assume jurisdiction of that same portion of road in the interest of promoting safe traffic flow.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and two individuals.

There have been reports of a serious traffic back-up of vehicles at the corner of Punchbowl Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard when making a left turn from Punchbowl into Ala Moana due to a short green signal, resulting in very few vehicles making the left turn at the same sequence. The back-up is also due to several intersecting side streets with Ala Moana that all have traffic signals and left turn signals for vehicles to turn left from Ala Moana into the side streets when heading in the Diamond Head direction. The City and County of Honolulu is responsible for synchronizing traffic signals on Ala Moana Boulevard at the corner of Punchbowl Street up to Kalakaua Avenue.

Ala Moana Boulevard has been under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation from the days when Honolulu was separated by distinct communities that had discrete boundaries, which no longer exist in modern times. Your Committees find that it is appropriate for the City and County to assume jurisdiction over this whole segment of the road to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Government Operations and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 57 and recommend its adoption.