STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1352

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 30

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 30 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO COOPERATE AND COORDINATE EFFORTS TO HARMONIZE PEDESTRIAN WALK SIGNAL LIGHTS WITH THE PEDESTRIAN'S RIGHT OF WAY IN CROSSWALK LAW,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the State Department of Transportation and the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu to cooperate and coordinate efforts to harmonize pedestrian walk signal lights and traffic stop lights with pedestrian's right of way in the crosswalk law.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and Disability and Communication Access Board.

     The recent spate of pedestrian fatalities arising from traffic accidents has aroused public concern over the safety of streets and roads, particularly for elderly citizens who generally need more time to complete crossing the street.  The State and the City and County of Honolulu need to cooperate and coordinate the timing of traffic signals, as well as the timing of pedestrian walk signals in order to enhance pedestrian safety.  Pedestrian walk signal lights and traffic stop lights should allow sufficient time for all pedestrians, particularly the elderly, to complete their crossing in a crosswalk.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 30 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and International Affairs and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair