HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	211
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Urging the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Department of Human Resources Development to evaluate subsidizing public transit for public employees.

WHEREAS, it is a policy and goal of the State to decarbonize our economy by 2045 and to achieve zero fossil fuel emissions in the transportation sector; and

WHEREAS, vehicle miles traveled, or VMT, is a proxy for measuring ground transportation emissions and the robustness of transportation options; and

WHEREAS, the reduction of VMT improves health, environmental, and economic outcomes for all residents, and is an integral part of reaching the State's zero emissions goal; and

WHEREAS, reducing VMT requires support for alternative forms of transportation and a reduction of private vehicle usage; and

WHEREAS, emissions per passenger mile on public transit, such as buses or rail, are far lower than private vehicles, and even lower when ridership is higher; and

WHEREAS, support for public transit also has other net positive benefits including better land use and improved air quality; and

WHEREAS, the State should lead by example and incentivize multimodal public transportation for its employees; and

WHEREAS, there is an existing pilot program for full-time employees of the executive branch to deduct the cost of bus passes pre-tax, which could be expanded to offer more generous incentives and include temporary and part-time state employees; and

WHEREAS, subsidies are already provided to some state employees who drive private vehicles, in the form of workplace parking in state facilities at rates that are far below market rates for dedicated parking; and

WHEREAS, providing free or subsidized public transportation access would greatly incentivize state employees to utilize options like bus or rail transit systems; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Human Resources Development are urged to collaboratively evaluate options to encourage the use and subsidize the cost of public transportation for state employees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, Director of Human Resources Development, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of Transportation, Chief Energy Officer, Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Co-Chairs of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

DAGS; DHRD; Public Transportation; State Employees; Subsidies