STAND. COM. REP. NO. 563

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.R. No. 7
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental
Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 7 entitled:

     "SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
     ON IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION AND THE TRAFFIC FLOW FROM THE
     FORT SHAFTER AND AIRPORT AREAS TO DOWNTOWN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of
Transportation to conduct a study and make recommendations on
improving transportation and the traffic flow from the Fort
Shafter and airport areas to downtown.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the
Department of Transportation.

     Testimony in opposition to this measure was received from
the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Tamashiro Market, Inc.,
Kalihi-Palama Community Council, Loomis Fargo & Co., and four
individuals.  One individual submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that traffic congestion during the rush
hour has reached a point where new solutions and alternative
traffic routes must be studied seriously.  One possible solution
that must be explored is the use of one-way streets, contra-flow
lanes, and other lane configurations to facilitate traffic flow.
As this measure requests a study of the problem, no specific
solution is currently favored or disfavored.  However, in

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 563
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exploring solutions, the study must be conducted with the
participation of the residents and businesses within the
communities that would be affected by any change in traffic flow
patterns.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying that
the intent of this measure is to respond to the concerns
expressed by the communities, no particular solution is favored
at this time, and although the counties usually conduct traffic
studies on county streets and roads, the Department of
Transportation should conduct the study because rush hour traffic
involves through traffic that must be properly coordinated with
adjacent state highways.  In addition, all ideas and potential
solutions will be reviewed by the Department of Transportation
with input from the communities and counties affected.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Transportation and Intergovernmental Affairs that is
attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent
and purpose of S.R. No. 7, as amended herein, and recommends that
it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form
attached hereto as S.R. No. 7, S.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Transportation
                                   and Intergovernmental Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

 
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