STAND. COM. REP. NO. 28-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2614
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B.
No. 2614 entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill, as received by your Committee, is
to authorize the Director of Transportation to establish
administrative rules dealing with road use restrictions.

     Your Committee finds that there is a potential danger to
motorists when hazardous chemicals and materials are transported
through Wilson Tunnel, and at the sharp curve at the Kaneohe side
of the tunnel. Your Committee further finds that utilization of
only the H-3 and Pali tunnels for transporting hazardous cargoes
would not seriously impact commerce, and would be a health and
safety asset for motorists.

     This bill proposes to authorize the Director of
Transportation to limit road use, by adopting restrictions,in
areas that have greater than normal potential for developing into
disaster areas, such as Wilson Tunnel, from accidental releases
or spills of hazardous chemicals and materials.  This bill also
proposes to increase fines for violations of Section 286-8,
Rules, from not more than $1,000 to not more than $2,000. 

     Testimonies in support of this measure were received from
the Department of Transportation and an interested resident.

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 28-00
                                 Page 2

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
2614 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred
to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation,



                                   ______________________________
                                   KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair