Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.R. No. 66 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the department of transportation to create a comprehensive statewide pedestrian safety action plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, Na Kama Hele, and three individuals.

Walking is an increasingly popular transportation option and recreational activity, and as a result, well-designed, continuous, connected sidewalks with safe crossings are highly valued. Hawaii reportedly has among the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities in the nation, the highest fatality rate for senior pedestrians age 65 years and older, and the eleventh highest pedestrian fatality rate for all ages.

Your Committee finds that there is a need to build better communities by consciously providing and adequately maintaining a continuous network of sidewalks, pathways and safe and accessible crossings for pedestrians and to make sidewalks and pathways friendly to persons using wheelchairs, strollers, or other mobility aids.

According to testimony of the Department of Transportation, it is addressing the issue of pedestrian safety through a multi-pronged approach that includes formation of the Walk Wise Hawaii Coalition, development of a strategic highway safety plan, organization of a pedestrian safety action plan and design, and development of a highway safety plan with pedestrian safety as a top priority. Your Committee requests the Department of Transportation to include more elaboration on these projects in its report to the Legislature.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 66 and recommends its adoption.