HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	152
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE COST FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING A FIXED-RAIL SYSTEM OF TRANSPORTATION CONNECTING THE KAHULUI-WAILUKU AREA, KIHEI, AND LAHAINA ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI.

     WHEREAS, the de facto population of the county of Maui increased thirty-five per cent from 134,569 in 1990 to 181,534 in 2005; and

     WHEREAS, the populations living in Kahului, Kihei, and Lahaina are the three highest in Maui county with the exception of Wailuku; and

     WHEREAS, for transportation purposes, Wailuku, which ranks third in population behind Kahului and Kihei, can be considered as a twin of Kahului -- the two contiguous towns almost as one; and

     WHEREAS, these towns are also among the favorite destinations of visitors to Maui and the roads connecting them are heavily traveled; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Transportation is requested to conduct a study to determine the cost feasibility of constructing a fixed-rail system of transportation connecting the Kahului-Wailuku area, Kihei, and Lahaina on the island of Maui; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is also requested to identify and select various systems involving fixed rail as a means of transport for examination; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is further requested to consider and examine all relevant potential issues such as land use, leasing or purchase of land, the exercise of eminent domain, environmental effects, disruption to existing traffic flow, as well as actual planning, engineering, and construction costs of the system with minimum and maximum number of stations on the line and their location, including the adequate supply of labor to carry out such a project; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit an interim report and a final report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2008 and 2009, respectively.  The Department is requested to include in the reports final cost estimates and a detailed discussion of potential impediments to the construction of a fixed rail system on Maui and recommendations to overcome these impediments; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation and the Mayor and the Chairperson of the Council of the County of Maui.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Maui; Fixed Rail; DOT Cost Study