STAND. COM. REP. NO.  269

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1516

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1516 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the transportation planning process by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop and implement a documented public involvement process when carrying out the statewide transportation plan;

 

     (2)  Stipulating the minimum requirements to be included in the public involvement process;

 

     (3)  Allowing DOT to use discretion in adopting any proposed changes to the statewide transportation plan that were a result of the public involvement process and requiring the DOT to make publicly available the reasoning for not adopting a proposed change; and

 

     (4)  Requiring the Director of DOT to adopt rules to develop and implement the public involvement process.

 

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation testified in support of this bill.  DOT provided comments.

     Hawaii's communities may be significantly impacted by the development and implementation of state transportation projects and policies.  In light of this issue, your Committee believes that the process established in this measure will help to improve public access to information regarding such projects and policies, as well as afford the public a better opportunity in voicing their thoughts and concerns.

 

     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. 1516 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,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair