STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4073

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 156

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 156 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO EXPEDITE WORK ON THE MAIPALAOA BRIDGE IN MAILI, OAHU AND IMPROVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL SUPPORT ON THE WAIANAE COAST AND URGING VARIOUS ENTITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMMEDIATELY OPEN THE SECTION OF THE WAIANAE COAST EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD SYSTEM EXTENDING PAAKEA ROAD OUT TO LUALUALEI NAVAL ROAD FOR PUBLIC USE ON A PERMANENT BASIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Request the Department of Transportation to take all necessary steps to expedite work on the Maipalaoa Bridge in Maili, Oahu;

(2) Improve traffic signal support on the Waianae Coast; and

(3) Urge various entities to work together to immediately open the section of the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road System extending Paakea Road out to Lualualei Naval Road for public use on a permanent basis.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Farrington Highway is the primary route of travel for communities on the Leeward Coast of Oahu and is the only public highway that leads into and out of the region. This leads to heavy traffic and safety issues, including accessibility problem for emergency responders. The lengthy construction and maintenance around Maipalaoa Bridge has exacerbated the traffic problem. Therefore, the purpose of this measure is to request several fixes that could improve the traffic and accessibility issues, including expediting work on Maipalaoa Bridge, improving traffic signal support on the Waianae Coast, and opening the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road System permanently to help divert the traffic bottleneck on Farrington Highway.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 156, and recommends its adoption.

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

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CHRIS LEE, Chair