STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2800

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2618

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2618 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing an interisland ferry system.

     The measure also appropriates an unspecified sum to the Department of Transportation to conduct the study.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, and two individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Aloha Analytics and one individual.

     Hawaii Shippers' Council submitted written comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii does not have the benefit of easy and cost-effective travel among the islands.  Your Committee believes that having alternative methods of travel among the islands should be explored to determine whether an interisland ferry system is feasible.

     Your Committee emphasizes that this measure authorizes the feasibility study.  Your Committee intends that the findings and recommendations of the study guide the Legislature in its further decisions regarding an interisland ferry system.

     Your Committee notes that the Department of Transportation is currently reviewing the anticipated cost of preparing an interisland ferry feasibility study.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2618, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2618, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair