STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1318

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 235

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. 235, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Transportation to expand the use of photo red light imaging detector systems and automated speed enforcement systems to locations on the North Shore of Oahu.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Law Enforcement, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary.

Your Committee finds that traffic safety is a significant and growing concern across the State. Your Committee further finds that Kamehameha Highway, especially along the North Shore of Oahu, has long been recognized as one of the most dangerous stretches of roadway in the State. Expanding critical traffic safety projects, particularly around schools, is critical to decreasing the high number of accidents and fatalities along Kamehameha Highway. This measure requires the Safe Routes to Schools Advisory Committee to develop safe routes to schools projects on Kamehameha Highway.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents and inserting language that requires the Safe Routes to Schools Advisory Committee to develop and prioritize no less than three safe routes to schools projects serving schools directly adjacent to Kamehameha Highway; and

(2) 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 H.B. No. 235, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 235, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

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

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair