STAND. COM. REP. NO.  62-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2437

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2437 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve traffic flow in an effort to reduce travel time along the Central Oahu corridor by requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to, among other things:

     (1)  Develop a comprehensive set of recommendations for improving traffic flow in the Central Oahu corridor;

     (2)  Perform a review of Central Oahu traffic flow studies already conducted;

     (3)  Study existing patterns and trends in traffic flow and density, existing peak and off-peak usage, and traffic flow under varying conditions, including seasonal and weather considerations;

     (4)  Study peak carrying capacity of the H-2 Freeway and Kamehameha Highway, as well as the surrounding feeder highways and roads, at current usage patterns;

     (5)  Conduct a review of alternatives for improving regional connectivity and reducing travel time;

     (6)  Establish a task force made up of area residents, state and county land use and transportation officials, and area developers to provide advice and assistance to DOT as it conducts this study; and

     (7)  Providing an appropriation for these reviews.

     The Mililani/Waipio/Melemanu Neighborhood Board No. 25 and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  DOT supported the intent of this measure.

     Traffic congestion and transportation issues affect every community on the island of Oahu.  This is especially true of the Central Oahu corridor which serves as a bridge between communities in Central and Leeward Oahu and urban Honolulu.  While numerous studies have been conducted on traffic flow in this corridor, a comprehensive review of these studies should be undertaken to develop a wide-ranging set of recommendations for improving traffic flow in the area.

     While your Committee understands that the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization will soon begin the process of updating its latest transportation analysis for Central Oahu, the expected addition of thousands of housing units in the Central Oahu area warrants that this measure receive further consideration.

     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. 2437 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair