STAND. COM. REP. NO. 708

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1260

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1260 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require each county, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, to establish a Summer Streets Pilot Program that temporarily closes vehicular traffic and repurposes roads for pedestrian and cyclist uses;

(2) Require each county to submit an initial proposal to the Director of Transportation; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Summer Streets Pilot Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Department of Health; three members of the Hawai‘i County Council; People for Active Transportation Hawaii; Hawai‘i Bicycling League; Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Cycle On Hawaii; Kauai Path, Inc.; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition; Maui Bicycling League; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that enhancing public spaces through innovative urban planning initiatives can significantly contribute to the health, sustainability, and cohesion of communities across Hawaii. This measure seeks to temporarily repurpose streets for pedestrian and cyclist use, outdoor activities, and cultural engagement for more vibrant, accessible, and sustainable public spaces in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the reporting requirements of the Department of Transportation;

(2) Defining "county" as a county of the State with a population of two hundred fifty thousand or less, except the County of Kalawao;

(3) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(4) Inserting a sunset date of June 30, 2027;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,000,000.

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. 1260, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1260, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair