STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2094

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.C.R. No. 138

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 S.C.R. No. 138 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO IMPLEMENT XERISCAPING TO DECORATE ROADWAYS, MEDIAL STRIPS, ROUNDABOUTS AND OTHER AREAS UNDER ITS JURISDICTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to urge the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement xeriscaping to decorate roadways, medial strips, roundabouts, and other areas under its jurisdiction.

     DOT testified in support of this measure.

     Xeriscaping is an environmentally friendly method of landscaping that uses drought-tolerant plants in conjunction with irrigation techniques to allow for the minimal use of water while maintaining an attractive landscape.  This type of landscaping also requires little maintenance.  DOT's use of this type of landscaping to decorate roadways, medial strips, roundabouts, and other areas along Hawaii's roadways will provide environmentally friendly beautification while decreasing the strain on DOT with regard to landscape maintenance.

     Your Committee notes, however, that landscaping of areas alongside roadways also may cause the State to incur liability costs should landscaping and maintenance be found to have contributed to a motor vehicle collision.  Therefore, your Committee also urges DOT to be cognizant of this issue and encourages DOT to use landscape architects, in conjunction with engineers, to study landscape designs and plan accordingly when using xeriscaping techniques to avoid future litigation and liability.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 138 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair