Honolulu, Hawaii
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Fourth State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2951 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to minimize traffic congestion and enhance long range transportation planning by requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement a statewide traffic congestion reduction plan that includes, among other things:
(1) A traffic flow improvement plan;
(2) An infrastructure maintenance and improvement program;
(3) A safety enhancement program;
(4) A transportation emergency preparedness plan; and
(5) Provisions for cooperative partnerships with academia in the development of a transportation research center and transportation programs that integrate engineering education with congestion mitigation and safety improvements.
The Hawaii Highway Users Alliance, City Taxi of Honolulu, Charley's Taxi, Catrala-Hawaii, and Royal Star Hawaii Transit testified in support of this bill. DOT opposed this measure.
Currently, DOT addresses maintenance, congestion, and safety needs of the state highway system through priorities established in short-range, mid-range, and long-range plans. Due to the decreasing availability of highway funding, the importance of proper planning is even greater. Your Committee finds that this measure will help to ensure that the needs of Hawaii's motorists are met with efficiency and accountability.
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. 2951 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,
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JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair |
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