Report Title:
Transportation; Sound Barriers
Description:
Requires the department of transportation to construct sound barriers along federal-aid highways during the design or redesign and construction or reconstruction phases of any new or existing federal-aid highway project. Requires the construction of sound barriers along existing highways, especially in the Aiea area of Oahu, where there is a longstanding noise problem for adjacent buildings and communities. Requires the department of transportation to conduct a study on the costs or alternatives to constructing sound barriers for the area abutting the H-1 freeway from Aloha Stadium to the Pearl City off-ramp.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1135 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to transportation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in the last fifteen years, noise levels have risen six-fold in major cities throughout the United States. For many communities, noise generated by highway traffic not only creates environmental problems for residents, but can also have a negative impact on student learning. As the number of cars on Hawaii's highways increases, highway noise contributes to serious hazards to public health and welfare and degrades the quality of life for many communities.
The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of transportation to use federal funds to construct sound barriers as mandated under this Act along existing and future highways in order to mitigate the negative impact of highway noise.
SECTION 2. Chapter 264, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§264- Construction of sound barriers along highways. The department of transportation shall construct sound barriers along federal-aid highways during the design or redesign and construction or reconstruction phases of any new or existing federal-aid highway project, when a determination is made that federal highway funds are available to pay for the federal share of the cost of constructing the barriers, especially in the Aiea area on the island of Oahu.
The department shall also plan and construct sound barriers along existing highways to abate longstanding noise problems for adjacent buildings and communities.
As used in this section, "sound barriers" means solid or non-solid obstructions built between the highway and homes or buildings situated along the highway, which reduce noise levels."
SECTION 3. The department of transportation shall conduct a study to determine the costs and alternatives to constructing sound barriers on state and county rights-of-way abutting the H-1 freeway, running between the freeway interchange at Aloha Stadium and the Pearl City off-ramp. The department shall submit a report, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007; provided that section 3 shall take effect upon approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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