STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1767-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.R. No. 119

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred H.R. No. 119 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE GREENBELTS STRATEGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation to develop a statewide greenbelts strategy.

Specifically, this measure requests the Department of Transportation, with the assistance of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to develop a statewide greenbelts strategy to promote the identification or development of transportation system management models and alternatives to the automobile while preserving the natural resources and beauty of the State. The Department of Transportation is further requested to:

(1) Incorporate existing and proposed non-motorized transportation and recreational master plans for each island;

(2) Assess existing and potential lands for beautification projects, corridors, and linkages to create greenbelts on each island, including existing and former railway lines, trails, creek and river corridors, roadways, and other areas that are underutilized and that could be converted to public recreational use;

(3) Gather information on other greenbelts programs throughout the United States and the world;

(4) Facilitate the coordination of the planning and implementation of greenbelts with federal, state, and county agencies, businesses, and citizens;

(5) Facilitate the coordination of the planning of sustainable communities for the State;

(6) Examine funding strategies from public and private sources to implement various projects;

(7) Propose ways to educate and inform government officials and the public on the many benefits of greenbelts;

(8) Establish further goals and strategies to create greenbelts in Hawaii and set priorities for their implementation; and

(9) Promote the health, safety, and welfare of the community by striving for a balance between motorized and non-motorized transit systems.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance. The Department of Transportation submitted testimony in opposition to this measure, stating that the Department's long-range planning already includes transportation greenbelts.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by substituting the word "ENCOURAGING" in place of "REQUESTING" and by substituting the phrase "FURTHER PROMOTE ITS" in place of "DEVELOP A" in the title of this measure to read:

"ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, TO FURTHER PROMOTE ITS STATEWIDE GREENBELTS STRATEGY."

Your Committee has also made several technical nonsubstantive amendments to conform with the change in the title of the measure and for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 119, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 119, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,

 

____________________________

EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair