HCR35

WHEREAS, the demand for efficient public transit services rises as the state population increases; and

WHEREAS, according to the State Transportation Statistics 2005 published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, of the 575,045 workers in Hawaii in 2004, 68.4 per cent traveled alone by car or truck, 16.4 per cent carpooled, 5.5 per cent used public transportation, and 1.8 per cent traveled by taxicab or motorcycle to work; and

WHEREAS, during the week days, only a small percentage of Hawaii's workforce that needs to commute to work are using public transit services, and are instead adding to highway and road congestion and spending more time on the road; and

WHEREAS, roadway congestion in Hawaii, especially on Oahu, is a growing problem that increases as more commuters decide to drive their cars to work rather than use public transit services, which can save time and money; and

WHEREAS, the senior citizen population in Hawaii is also increasing, which adds to the demand for better and more efficient transit services to accommodate their transportation needs; and

WHEREAS, under section 26-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Department of Transportation is required to develop, promote, and coordinate various transportation systems management programs that include alternate work and school hours programs, bicycling programs, and ridesharing programs; and

WHEREAS, investigating and studying alternative transportation systems is part of the Department's responsibility to develop, promote, and coordinate various transportation systems management programs; and

WHEREAS, investigating the current trends of Hawaii's traffic congestion and exploring alternative methods for congestion relief will also assist the Department in studying alternative transportation systems in Hawaii, including improved public transit services; and

WHEREAS, new and innovative technologies and models are available for the transit industry to improve and diversify its services, such as global positioning systems, wireless technology, and computer software; and

WHEREAS, better organization and consolidation of the transit routes, flexible transit schedules, and an expanded range of fare options can better accommodate commuters and create public transit as a more attractive and economically feasible alternative; and

WHEREAS, as a result, commuters will be able to leave their cars at home, lessen traffic congestion, save money that would have been spent for gasoline, and speed up their commute times; 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 urged to study new and innovative technologies and models for public transit services, and investigate alternative methods to aid in the relief of traffic congestion on roads in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to consult with the Public Utilities Commission, the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the counties to:

(1) Investigate and study the current status of the traffic congestion problem statewide;

(2) Explore alternative methods to aid in the relief of traffic congestion;

(3) Identify new and innovative available technologies and models that have the potential to be beneficial to Hawaii's public transit services;

(4) Review current public transit activities, technologies, and models and policies, and evaluate their effectiveness;

(5) Review other jurisdictions' activities, technologies, and models and policies to derive the best practice models therefrom;

(6) Evaluate the feasibility of adopting new and innovative technologies and models; and

(7) Establish findings and develop recommendations on how the State can improve and create more efficient public transit services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation; the Chair of the Public Utilities Commission; the Executive Director of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; the Director of the Transportation Services Department, City and County of Honolulu; the Administrator of the Mass Transit Agency, County of Hawaii; the Administrator of the Transportation Agency, County of Kauai; and the Director of the Department of Transportation, County of Maui.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Public Transit Services; Study

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	35
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII