STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1740

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 Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 235, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee to develop and prioritize no fewer than three safe routes to school projects at three schools on Kamehameha Highway.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, and Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!.

Your Committees find that increasing pedestrian safety along state roadways is urgent, as evidenced by the growing number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities. Your Committees further find that Kamehameha Highway along Oahu's North Shore is particularly dangerous and poses risks to students traveling to schools located on or near the highway. Your Committees are committed to developing safe routes to schools in this area to enable students who live nearby to safely walk, bike, and roll to school.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 235, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair