STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1094

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1081

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1081, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SIDEWALKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create and maintain a priority list of sidewalk installation and improvement projects;

(2) Require the county transportation departments to create and maintain a priority list of sidewalk installation and improvement projects; and

(3) Require the DOT and the counties to post the list on their respective websites to promote transparency and public accountability.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Waikiki Neighborhood Board, Hawaii Bicycling League, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that sidewalk networks increase pedestrian safety by separating pedestrians from vehicular traffic. Moreover, sidewalks produce positive public-health outcomes by encouraging walking, making communities more accessible, and contributing to more sustainable communities by decreasing dependence on motor vehicles. However, there is a significant disparity in the installation, maintenance, and improvement of sidewalk networks throughout the State. This measure will promote the development of sidewalk installation and improvement plans by requiring the DOT and the counties to maintain an ongoing list of sidewalk installation and pedestrian improvement projects. It will also promote transparency and accountability by requiring those lists to be published on the respective websites of the DOT and the counties so that the information can be accessed by the public.

Your Committee notes that the DOT has testified that it already has a list of sidewalk and pedestrian improvement projects and that the list, called the Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan, is already accessible on the DOT's website.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the DOT to maintain, rather than create, a list of statewide sidewalk and pedestrian improvement projects;

(2) Requiring the DOT and county transportation departments to include possible alternative to sidewalks that may be better suited for individual communities on the priority list; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 1081, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1081, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

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

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair