STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3772

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 121

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 S.R. No. 121 entitled:

"SENATE 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 that the Department of Transportation take all necessary steps to expedite work on the Maipalaoa Bridge in Maili, Oahu;

(2) Request improved 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 from 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 gridlock traffic is a serious problem for Leeward motorists. Maipalaoa Bridge was last reconstructed in 1970, is severely compromised due to deterioration, and is currently under reconstruction. The Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road System is currently a closed emergency roadway that could significantly improve traffic congestion were it to be opened on a more permanent basis. Furthermore, Honolulu's Joint Traffic Management Center can manage traffic flow conditions if all of Waianae's vital traffic signals are connected. The purpose of this measure is to ameliorate Leeward gridlocks through a combination of various changes including the expediting of the Maipalaoa Bridge reconstruction, opening of the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road System, and streamlining of Waianae's traffic signal system.

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 S.R. No. 121 and recommends its adoption.

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

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CHRIS LEE, Chair