STAND. COM. REP. NO.  326-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2153

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2153 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TOLL ROADS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to alleviate traffic congestion on Hawaii's roadways, as well as provide a dedicated source of revenue for the maintenance of heavily used highways and roads by authorizing the Department of Transportation to establish toll roads for motor vehicle traffic in the State.

The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Transportation Association, and Building Industry Association of Hawaii testified in opposition of this measure.  The Department of Transportation provided comments.

     Toll roads have been used by numerous metropolitan areas around the country as a means of mitigating motor vehicle traffic and paying for repairs and maintenance of roadways that are heavily used.  Your Committee finds that traffic congestion is an increasing problem on public roadways in the State and that toll roads may be a way of reducing traffic while offering a dedicated source of revenue for the maintenance of heavily used roadways and highways.

     However, your Committee understands fairness issues raised regarding the establishment of tolls on roads that are the only means of access to a particular area.  As such, your Committee has amended this measure by stipulating that no toll road may be constructed or designated where there is no alternative toll-free route available for public use.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made 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. 2153, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2153, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair