STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3660

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 169

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Energy, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 169 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF THE LEEWARD BIKEWAY IN 2016,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation to:

     (1)  Begin construction of the Leeward Bikeway in 2016; and

     (2)  Report to the Legislature on the progress of construction no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2017.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, The Trust for Public Land, American Diabetes Association, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Bicycling League, and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee finds that in 1980, the right-of-way for the Leeward Bikeway on the Island of Oahu was transferred from the United States government to the State of Hawaii.  In 1995, the Legislature appropriated funds for the Leeward Bikeway.  In the 2006 General Election, seventy-two percent of Oahu residents voted to amend the Revised Charter of Honolulu to make Oahu more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.  Your Committee further finds that community advocates have spent considerable time pursuing the completion of the multi-use path that links the Pearl Harbor Historic Trail to Nanakuli.

     The Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration are willing to cooperate and coordinate with all relevant parties to complete the process so that construction of the Leeward Bikeway may commence.  The multi-use path will give Leeward Oahu residents another transportation option to work and school.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Energy that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 169, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair