STAND. COM. REP. NO. 282

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1290

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1290 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Transportation to design and construct a plan to make Lower Puna one of the safest areas for bicyclists and motorists to share the roads.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, one member of the Hawaii County Council, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Lower Puna district is a beautiful place to ride a bicycle, but is also one of the most dangerous. The construction of bicycle lanes will help improve traffic flow by giving bicyclists their own safe place on the roadway, while keeping motor vehicles in their respective lanes. Dedicated bicycle lanes will give commuters an alternative mode of transportation.

Your Committee notes the Department of Transportation testified before your Committee that on Highway 130, there is an existing shoulder bikeway from State Route 11 to Paradise Drive that was implemented over twenty years ago. The remainder of Highway 130 is a proposed shoulder bikeway that will cost an estimated $1,800,000 for project planning and designing, and an estimated $12,000,000 to construct due to the need to widen the existing paved shoulder outside of the existing paved roadway.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Limiting the appropriation to that portion of Highway 130, from State Route 11 to Paradise Road;

(2) Clarifying that the bicycle path shall be a protected bicycle path; and

(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1290, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1290, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair