STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1317

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1260

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1260, H.D. 1, 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) Require a county with a population of two hundred fifty thousand or less, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, to establish a Summer Streets Pilot Program that closes vehicular traffic and repurposes roads for pedestrian and cyclist use, outdoor events, and other community-driven activities;

(2) Require a participating county to submit an initial proposal to the Director of Transportation;

(3) Require reports to the Legislature; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Health, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council, Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaiʻi Bicycling League, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, Get Fit Kauaʻi, and three individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the adaption of streets and public roadways for multi-use purposes can dramatically improve the well‑being and sustainability of a community. Safe, accessible, and walkable streets encourage physical activity and can promote better health outcomes in communities statewide. However, certain under-resourced communities may not have access to walkable streets, creating further reliance on motor vehicles. Therefore, this measure encourages the creation of safer streets that can be utilized by all roadway users.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding the Summer Streets Pilot Program to all counties;

(2) Requiring each county with a population of two hundred fifty thousand or more to collaborate jointly with the State Highway Safety and Modernization Council to develop proposals to submit to the Director of Transportation;

(3) Specifying that the Department of Health shall partner with any appropriate agencies or organizations in submitting reports to the Legislature on how each pilot project was received after a period of normalization in each case;

(4) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(5) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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 H.B. No. 1260, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1260, H.D. 1, 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