Report Title:

High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes; Zipper Lanes

 

Description:

Allows all motor vehicles, regardless of number of persons on board, to use high occupancy vehicle lanes or zipper lanes when one or more lanes of traffic have been shut down by law enforcement officers or emergency services personnel. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop protocols for their use.  (HB866 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

866

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANES.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The State of Hawaii's highways are necessary to accommodate the transportation needs of the people of the state.  Increased time spent on the road in travel decreases time spent with the family or at work, reducing people's quality of life and work effectiveness.  As the population grows, especially on the west side of Oahu, the need for travel lanes will only increase.

     Having high occupancy vehicle lanes or zipper lanes provide an incentive to carpool, effectively reducing the number of cars on the road.  However, many "incidents" cause the closure of lanes, whether accidents, car crashes, stalled vehicles, or other issues.  This reduction of available travel lanes slows traffic significantly.  Studies have shown that for each minute an incident remains in a lane, the backlog of traffic increases by ten minutes.  Therefore, allowing the use of the high occupancy vehicle lanes or zipper lanes to any motor vehicle, regardless of the number of passengers when an incident occurs would be the most effective use of lanes for all citizens.

     For the purposes of this section:

     "Accident" means an unplanned event involving a motor vehicle, resulting in damage to one or more motor vehicles, property damage, or personal injury.

     "Incident" includes but is not limited to any accident or issue that disrupts the flow of traffic.

     The purpose of this Act is to mitigate traffic and ensure the most effective use of all travel lanes.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§291C-     High occupancy vehicle lanes; emergencies.  (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, any motor vehicle, regardless of the number of persons carried, shall be allowed to use a high occupancy vehicle lane or zipper lane when one or more lanes of a laned roadway within a       mile radius have been shut down by law enforcement officers or emergency services personnel.

     (b)  The department shall develop protocols for the use of the high occupancy vehicle lane or zipper lane as provided in subsection (a)."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.