STAND. COM. REP. NO.  52-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2302

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2302 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to properly, effectively, and efficiently address the numerous issues facing transit-oriented development statewide through a coordinated, intergovernmental, and interagency approach by establishing the Hawaii Interagency Council for Transit-Oriented Development.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Office of Planning, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, and Blue Planet Foundation testified in support of this bill.  The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Realtors, RMA Sales, and the Building Industry Association of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  The Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

     Transit-oriented development can provide significant economic, social, and environmental benefits through the co-location of jobs, workforce housing, and economic opportunities in mixed-use communities at public transportation hubs.  However, the development of transit-oriented development plans encompasses a wide spectrum of issues over multiple jurisdictions.  Your Committee finds that establishing the Hawaii Interagency Council for Transit-Oriented Development will allow for a more coordinated effort among county, state, and federal governmental agencies, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors, to comprehensively address the issues facing transit-oriented development plans statewide.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that a designee of a county mayor may serve as the mayor's representative on the Hawaii Interagency Council for Transit-Oriented Development;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  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 H.B. No. 2302, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2302, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair