SR98

WHEREAS, ensuring the safety of Hawaiʻi's keiki as they travel to and from school is a paramount concern for families, educators, and policymakers; and

WHEREAS, unlike other islands in the State, many students on Hawaiʻi island face unique transportation challenges, including long travel distances, limited access to school bus services, and reliance on the County of Hawaiʻi's Hele-On public transportation system through special arrangements with the Department of Education; and

WHEREAS, these challenges are compounded by bus route limitations, road infrastructure deficiencies, and the absence of safe, dedicated school bus stops in certain rural and underserved areas; and

WHEREAS, the availability and staffing of active bus routes are critical concerns, as many school transportation services struggle with driver shortages, funding constraints, and an insufficient number of routes to accommodate all students safely and efficiently; and

WHEREAS, the need for additional bus routes has become increasingly evident, particularly in remote communities where children must walk long distances along unsafe roads to reach their nearest bus stop or school; and

WHEREAS, poorly designed or maintained bus stops, lack of proper lighting, insufficient pedestrian crossings, and hazardous traffic conditions pose significant risks to children; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of existing bus stops on Hawaiʻi island used by school-aged children is necessary to identify deficiencies and develop recommendations for improvements; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Education is urged to collaborate with the Department of Transportation and the County of Hawaiʻi to conduct an inventory of bus stops on Hawaiʻi island utilized by children to travel to school and develop strategies to improve safety at each location; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this inventory is requested to include an assessment of safety conditions at each bus stop, including but not limited to:

(1) The presence and condition of sidewalks and crosswalks;

(2) Adequate lighting and visibility;

(3) Traffic patterns and congestion;

(4) Proximity to high speed roadways;

(5) The availability of shelters and seating;

(6) The adequacy of current bus routes in meeting student transportation needs; and

(7) Any other potential hazards affecting student safety; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education, in coordination with the Department of Transportation and the County of Hawaiʻi, is requested to develop recommendations and propose strategies to enhance the safety of these bus stops, including infrastructure improvements, traffic calming measures, additional bus routes, and community engagement initiatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including a prioritized list of bus stops in need of immediate safety improvements, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Director of Transportation, and Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DOT; DOE; County of Hawaii; Bus Stops; Transportation Infrastructure

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	98
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII