THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	122
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THAT the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ESTABLISH A ZERO EMISSIONS GROUND TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP.

WHEREAS, Hawaii has among the highest cost of transportation, which greatly increases the overall cost of living for residents; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has among the worst vehicular fatality rates in the country including the worst senior citizen pedestrian fatality rate; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii also has among the worst traffic congestion in the country; and

WHEREAS, transportation accounts for the majority of Hawaii's greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is ideally suited to serve as a unique incubator for innovative new technologies and services that will help countries around the world achieve zero emissions transportation; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is an island chain with a population density sufficient to support the electrification of ground transportation; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii does not face the same issues of range anxiety found in larger jurisdictions meaning that Hawaii can achieve electric charging saturation much more easily than larger or more sparsely populated jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has excellent year-round weather, making it possible to significantly reduce the need for fossil fuel transportation by enabling pedestrian, bicycle, and other zero emissions mobility options for large portions of the population as has already been achieved successfully in many other nations; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is on track to achieve one hundred per cent clean electricity which will make it possible to charge a truly clean transportation fleet; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that the Department of Transportation is requested to establish a zero emissions ground transportation working group; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to advise and recommend plans regarding zero emissions ground transportation to the Governor and Legislature and develop metrics, benchmarks, plans and recommendations for stakeholders; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall additionally be requested to establish and articulate clear plans and metrics to address goals in part X of chapter 264, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is further requested to coordinate with and pursue funding from other groups, agencies, and programs in and outside of the State that are working to achieve zero emissions transportation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Working Group; Zero Emissions Transportation; Ground Transportation