REPORT TITLE:
Zipper & HOV Lane Restrictions


DESCRIPTION:
Allows use of HOV lanes by all vehicles between the hours of 7:00
a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Interstate Route H-1.  Creates a pilot
project to study and permit the use of Zipper Lanes by vehicles
carrying two persons during specific hours.  Permits general use
of the zipper lane during an accident or emergency on the H-1.
(SD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        3031
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that an overwhelming
 
 2 number of Hawaii residents still believe there is a serious
 
 3 traffic problem, despite efforts to address it.  Last year, to
 
 4 improve traffic flow, the Zipper lane was introduced to
 
 5 complement the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane.  The Zipper
 
 6 lane has been praised as an ingenious way to temporarily add one
 
 7 more lane for peak-hour traffic by mechanically moving concrete
 
 8 barriers.  This same system is also used in Dallas, Boston, San
 
 9 Diego, and New York.
 
10      The purpose of this Act is to allow the use of the HOV lane
 
11 by all vehicles after 7:00 a.m., and to create a pilot project to
 
12 study and permit the use of Zipper lanes by all vehicles carrying
 
13 two persons after 7:00 a.m. Allowing this will reduce traffic
 
14 congestion and improve the overall traffic flow on the State's
 
15 highways.  
 
16      This Act also provides for the general use of the zipper
 
17 lane during an accident or emergency on the H-1.  It is only by
 
18 maximizing the use of all lanes on the H-1 during an accident or
 
19 emergency that an acute traffic situation can be alleviated. 
 

 
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 1      SECTION 2.  Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated
 
 3 and to read as follows:
 
 4      "�291C-    Zipper lane restrictions.  Zipper lanes shall be
 
 5 restricted to use by vehicles as follows:
 
 6      (1)  Between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., vehicles
 
 7           carrying at least three persons;
 
 8      (2)  Between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., vehicles
 
 9           carrying at least two persons; and
 
10      (3)  During the hours the zipper lane is in use, if an
 
11           accident or emergency occurs, which is expected to take
 
12           an hour or more to clear up, then the zipper lane may
 
13           be used for general use.  The police officer on site
 
14           shall call the police dispatch, who shall notify the
 
15           department of transportation, which shall post the
 
16           appropriate freeway signs, and notify the media." 
 
17      SECTION 3.  Section 291C-221, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
18 amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted
 
19 and to read as follows:
 
20      ""Zipper lane" means a temporary lane created with the use
 
21 of an installed movable lane divider which may be used as a
 
22 contra-flow, high occupancy vehicle, through traffic, or
 
23 unrestricted lane."
 

 
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 1      SECTION 4.  Section 291C-221, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended by amending the definition of "high occupancy vehicle
 
 3 lane" to read as follows:
 
 4      ""High occupancy vehicle lane" means a designated lane of a
 
 5 laned roadway where the use of the designated lane is restricted
 
 6 to vehicles carrying at least two persons and to other vehicles
 
 7 as provided by rules adopted in accordance with chapter 91, or by
 
 8 county ordinance[.]; provided that between the hours of 7:00 a.m.
 
 9 and 8:00 a.m., high occupancy vehicle lanes on Interstate Route
 
10 H-1 may be occupied by any vehicle regardless of the number of
 
11 persons in the vehicle."
 
12      SECTION 5.  The current project involving the zipper lane
 
13 and the provisions codified in sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall
 
14 be a pilot project under the supervision of the department of
 
15 transportation.  The department shall monitor and compile daily
 
16 statistics on the use of the zipper lane during different time
 
17 periods.  The department shall submit a report with daily
 
18 statistics, including any recommendations on the pilot project,
 
19 to the legislature twenty days prior to the commencing of the the
 
20 regular session of 2002. 
 
21      SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
22 New statutory material is underscored.
 
23      SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2525.