STAND. COM. REP. NO. 884

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 993

       H.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 993, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to develop alternative means of transportation between the islands of the State by:

     (1)  Establishing the Hawaii Marine Highway System;

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Transportation to administer the System by:

          (A)  Developing a comprehensive long-range plan for the development and improvement of the System;

          (B)  Constructing, purchasing, or leasing ferry terminal facilities throughout the State; and

          (C)  Repairing and maintaining ferry terminal facilities throughout the State; and

     (3)  Creating the Hawaii Marine Highway System Fund within the state treasury, which funds are to be used for the operation and maintenance of the System.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     This measure is patterned after the Alaska Marine Highway System, which is a ferry service operated by the State of Alaska to provide for the efficient transportation of people, goods, and vehicles.  The Alaska Marine Highway System has been in operation since 1963 and is part of the United States National Highway System, which is a network of primary highways and federally designated ferry routes, for inclusion in the Federal Highway System to be eligible to receive federal funding for capital improvements.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii, as an island state, would benefit from a ferry service as an alternative to a highway system to connect all the islands of the State.

     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 H.B. No. 993, H.D. 1, 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