STAND. COM. REP. NO.  41-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2577

      H.D. 1

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. 2577 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to protect the safety, health, and well-being of the residents of rural areas on Maui by requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prepare, and appropriating funds for, a disaster contingency plan to maintain continued transportation access along Hana Highway in case of catastrophic events such as earthquakes, landslides, or heavy rains or flooding.

     DOT supported the intent of this measure.

     Access to many rural areas in Hawaii is restricted to one-lane highways with numerous bridges.  These highways serve as a lifeline to these rural communities, especially in times of disaster.  This is especially true for the Hana Highway, which experienced extensive and lengthy closures over the past two years due to earthquakes and heavy flooding.  This resulted in residents being essentially "cut-off" from the rest of Maui County, with some areas needing to have food, water, fuel, and other supplies flown into the area by military helicopters.  Anticipating disasters through the establishment of highway contingency plans will allow for access to rural areas such as Hana to be maintained during times of disasters.

     Your Committee does understand the concerns raised by DOT that although their responsibility consists of maintaining the Hana Highway, such disaster planning is better accomplished by a county civil defense agency.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Maui Civil Defense Agency, rather than               DOT, to prepare a disaster contingency plan to maintain        continued transportation access along the Hana Highway;

     (2)  Appropriating funds to Maui County to be expended by the      Maui Civil Defense Agency to prepare this disaster             contingency plan; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,      consistency, and style.

     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. 2577, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2577, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair