STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1621

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 197

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 197 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU AND THE HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ANALYZE THE WAIANAE COAST EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD SYSTEM AND WHETHER THESE ROADS CAN BE USED AS A SECONDARY ACCESS ROAD TO THE WAIANAE COAST ON A PERMANENT BASIS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation Services, Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu, and the Honolulu Police Department, to conduct an analysis of the roads in the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road System.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from The Maritime Group; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; and six individuals.

     Your Committees find that Farrington Highway has experienced lane closures or complete shutdowns on numerous occasions due to traffic accidents, severe weather, and other emergency conditions.  In a coordinated effort between numerous departments and agencies, plans have been put in place to use existing roads as an emergency access and bypass route into the Waianae area during emergency highway closures or other emergency situations.

     Your Committees further find that the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road System consists of gated roads that are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Emergency Management of the City and County of Honolulu and can be opened when it is deemed necessary or when requested by the Honolulu Police Department.  However, while use of the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road System has provided needed relief during recent emergency situations, issues regarding the timely opening of these roads still remain.  Your Committees believe that there is a critical need for an alternate route to the Waianae Coast to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly for emergency vehicles.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Energy and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 197, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Energy and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair