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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3255 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to highways.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Farrington highway is not just the sole major roadway on Oahu's leeward coast, it is also the sole access route that links the Waianae district to Ewa and points east toward metropolitan Honolulu. Although west Oahu has experienced exponential growth and development over the last twenty years, transportation infrastructure has not kept pace. Traffic volume on Farrington highway has increased from an average of twenty thousand vehicles per day in 2000, to fifty thousand vehicles per day in 2016. Although planned rail and other public transportation expansions, such as more robust bus service, may alleviate some traffic congestion once they are fully implemented, a solution that depends solely on public transportation is too far in the future and inadequate.
The city and county of Honolulu's department of transportation services published a concept study for a parallel route to Farrington highway for the leeward coast in 2001. To date, no action has been taken to realize this project. The residents of the Waianae district bear the largest burden of the current infrastructural insufficiency since they must contend with daily commutes of up to two hours each way for jobs or school. In fact, during peak morning and afternoon commute hours, the eight-mile segment of Farrington highway between Makaha and Nanakuli cannot be traveled in less than forty-five minutes. Additionally, the lack of any alternate route leaves leeward residents more vulnerable to harm in an emergency situation. There is currently no available route that can be used as an alternative to Farrington highway during times when Farrington highway is impassable. Coastal residents are at the mercy of traffic conditions for travel both within and out of the Waianae district and may be unable to reach emergency services or to timely evacuate the area if the sole available route through and out of the district is impassable due to storm damage, severe vehicular accidents, or even daily rush hour traffic.
The legislature further finds that any project to alleviate traffic congestion on Oahu's west side must first avoid exacerbating the problem through ongoing lane closures or other disruptions caused by road construction. It is critical that any project to supply alternate transportation corridors minimize or, ideally, altogether avoid creating additional transportation barriers for residents of west Oahu.
Furthermore, the legislature finds that the increased volume of traffic on Farrington highway creates hazardous conditions for pedestrians crossing the highway. Pedestrian overpasses at critical points along Farrington highway will help to alleviate disruptions in traffic flow and promote pedestrian safety.
SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the purpose of capital improvement projects in the Waianae district to address traffic mitigation, as follows:
(1) Parallel routes
Plans for construction of parallel routes that pass through Oahu's Waianae coast and connect that area to the rest of Oahu's transportation infrastructure.
Plans $
Total funding $
The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the department of transportation.
(2) Pedestrian overpass fronting Waianae high school
Plans, design, and construction for a pedestrian overpass over Farrington highway in front of Waianae high school for traffic mitigation, including ground and site improvements.
Plans $2,100,000
Design $2,100,000
Construction $25,800,000
Total funding $30,000,000
The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the department of transportation.
(3) Pedestrian overpass fronting Waianae boat harbor
Plans, design, and construction for a pedestrian overpass over Farrington highway in front of Waianae boat harbor for traffic mitigation, including ground and site improvements.
Plans $2,100,000
Design $2,100,000
Construction $25,800,000
Total funding $30,000,000
The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the department of transportation.
(4) Pedestrian overpass fronting Puhano street, Waianae
Plans, design, and construction for a pedestrian overpass over Farrington highway in front of Puhano street in Waianae for traffic mitigation, including ground and site improvements.
Plans $2,100,000
Design $2,100,000
Construction $25,800,000
Total funding $30,000,000
The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the department of transportation.
(5) Pedestrian overpass fronting Waianae intermediate school
Plans, design, and construction for a pedestrian overpass over Farrington highway in front of Waianae intermediate school for traffic mitigation, including ground and site improvements.
Plans $2,100,000
Design $2,100,000
Construction $25,800,000
Total funding $30,000,000
The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the department of transportation.
(6) Pedestrian overpass fronting Maliona street
Plans, design, and construction for a pedestrian overpass over Farrington highway in front of Maliona street for traffic mitigation, including ground and site improvements.
Plans $2,100,000
Design $2,100,000
Construction $25,800,000
Total funding $30,000,000
The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the department of transportation.
SECTION 3. The appropriation made for the capital improvement projects authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2024, shall lapse as of that date.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Roadways; Waianae District; Parallel Routes; Pedestrian Overpasses; Traffic Mitigation; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the Waianae district to address traffic mitigation.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.