STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1112

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 715

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 715 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve coordination between the State and counties in transportation planning and funding by requiring the Statewide Transportation Plan to comply with county transportation-related plans; county general plans; and all community, development, or community development plans adopted pursuant to the county general plan, to the extent that compliance does not affect the availability of federal funds.

     A member of the Maui County Council, Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Hawaii Association of REALTORS^® testified in support of this bill.

     Coordination of highway and other roadway projects is critical to ensure that transportation projects are completed on a timely and efficient basis.  Requiring the State to consider a county's transportation-related plans or general plan, along with other community development plans, when developing a statewide plan will enhance such coordination.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Clarifying that the Statewide Transportation Plan must comply with county transportation-related plans; county general plans; and all community, development, or community development plans adopted pursuant to the county general plan, to the extent that compliance does not affect the receipt of, rather than the availability of, federal funds; and

(2)  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 S.B. No. 715, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 715, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair