STAND. COM. REP. NO.  241

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 357

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 357 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve pedestrian safety by establishing a two-year pilot program in the City and County of Honolulu (City) to test crosswalk safety enhancements and programs.

     The Department of Transportation (DOT), Hawaii Bicycling League, and Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs testified in support of this bill.

     Pedestrian fatalities in Hawaii remain at an unacceptably high level.  Over the past five years, Hawaii averaged slightly over 30 pedestrian deaths a year, ranking Hawaii eleventh nationally in pedestrian deaths.  This pilot program addresses an ongoing issue of pedestrian deaths and injury on Oahu's roadways.  If successful, the program will be able to be employed in all of Hawaii's counties.

     Your Committee notes however, that DOT should be consulted by the City during the testing of new crosswalk safety enhancements and programs when they involve roads under the State's jurisdiction.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by requiring the City to:

     (1) Consult DOT when the testing of crosswalk safety enhancements and programs involve roads under the jurisdiction of the State; and

     (2) Obtain any necessary permits when installing any equipment or devices on state roads.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 357, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 357, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair