STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2001

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2156

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2156 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WEST MAUI TRANSPORTATION ACCESS PLAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to create the informal, temporary West Maui transportation access plan working group within the Department of Transportation to develop a West Maui transportation access plan to address road closures in West Maui.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Department of Transportation (Department); the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO; Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc.; Lahaina Bypass Now, and one individual.  The State Procurement Office and one individual submitted testimony in opposition.

     Your Committee finds that the transportation access issues addressed in this measure may also be concerns for other areas in the State, and this planning process could serve as a model for developing plans in areas having similar problems, such as West Kauai, Wainee, and the Kealakekua area.  Your Committee notes the Department's recommendation that the working group be the responsibility of the County of Maui, but believes this is an issue for continuing discussion in subsequent legislative committees.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2156 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair