STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1112

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 806

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 806, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Transportation to conduct a pilot study to identify intersections where the time to cross the intersection is insufficient for elderly pedestrians, and to appropriate funds for the implementation of the pilot study.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor; Department of Health; Department of Transportation (DOT); Maui County Office on Aging; Downtown Neighborhood Board No. 13; Kokua Council; Hawaii Bicycling League; AARP Hawaii; and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's elderly pedestrians should not have to rush to cross the street.  Adequate time should be provided for elderly pedestrians to cross the street safely.  A 2004 Elderly Pedestrian Integration Report prepared by SMS Research & Marketing Services, Inc. for the DOT indicated that there are approximately five hundred sixty pedestrian injuries in Hawaii each year, and that an average of twenty-eight pedestrians die each year after being struck by a car.  Elderly pedestrians, age sixty-five and older, constituted the highest number of pedestrian fatalities when compared to all other age groups in Hawaii.

     The intent of this measure is to protect pedestrians of all ages while they are in a crosswalk.  Adjusting the timing of crosswalk signal indicators is the first step in this direction.

     Your Committee amended this measure by replacing its contents with the provisions of S.B. No. 1191, S.D. 2.  As amended, this measure, among other things, would:

     (1)  Allow the DOT, in conjunction with nonprofit organizations and the counties, to:

          (A)  Take immediate action to make crosswalks and roadways safe; and

          (B)  Conduct a statewide study to identify intersections where the time to cross the intersection is insufficient for elderly pedestrians as well as other persons who may require additional time, and to develop additional plans to make crosswalks and roadways safe;

     (2)  Provide an appropriation of $1,000,000 in each year of the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium for traffic countdown timers, a public awareness campaign, and pilot safety measures such as pedestrian activated signals, the painting of advanced crosswalk markings, hand-carried signs and flags, enforcement of crosswalk laws for drivers and pedestrians, and to provide grants-in-aid to the counties for traffic countdown timers.  The grants-in-aid are to be supported by a dollar-for-dollar match from the counties;

     (3)  Provide an appropriation of $1,000,000, for fiscal year 2007-2008 and the sum of $2,000,000, for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the DOT to conduct a pilot study to identify state and county intersections where the time to cross the intersection is insufficient for elderly pedestrians, and clarify that the department may consult with the counties and nonprofit organizations as appropriate for purposes of the pilot study; and

     (4)  Change the effective date from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2007.

     The intent of this amended measure is for the Department of Transportation to work in collaboration with the AARP and the counties for the purposes of fulfilling this Act.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 806, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 806, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair