STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2601

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2738

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 2738 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a three-year pilot program within the Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the counties, to examine signalized intersections that are programmed to all crosswalk and pedestrian movement signs to commence four seconds before the green light is given to motor vehicle traffic when the walk button has been pressed;

(2) Require a report to the Legislature; and

(3) Make an appropriation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Ulupono Initiative, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that a study published in 2022 found that Hawaii ranked in the top ten nationwide for poor driving, analyzing statistics including speeding tickets, accidents, DUIs, and citations. According to testimony received by your Committee, leading pedestrian intervals are an underutilized proven safety countermeasure in Hawaii. Your Committee believes that it is necessary to increase pedestrian visibility, reduce conflicts between drivers and pedestrians, improve the likelihood of drivers yielding to pedestrians, and protect vulnerable roadway users by establishing a pilot program to examine signalized intersections.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language to authorize the pilot program to examine signalized intersections that have automatic pedestrian movement signs and new technologies;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $599,000; and

(3) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2738, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2738, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair