146
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO STUDY AND MAKE
    RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ALTERNATIVE
    ACCESS ROUTES FOR THE NORTH SHORE OF OAHU.
 


 1        WHEREAS, the recent rockslide near Waimea Bay on the North
 2   Shore of Oahu that forced the closing of Kamehameha Highway has
 3   caused considerable inconvenience to residents and visitors
 4   alike; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, Kamehameha Highway is the only road available to
 7   residents of the North Shore, and is often crowded to capacity
 8   on weekends, during surfing contests, or other community
 9   events; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, the traffic congestion on Kamehameha Highway
12   affects both residents and visitors from Haleiwa to Laie and
13   could be a hazard in the event of a medical or other emergency;
14   and 
15   
16        WHEREAS, the recent emergency closing of the North Shore's
17   single access roadway, Kamehameha Highway, seriously disrupted
18   residents' commute between their homes, schools, their
19   workplaces, hospitals, and banks; and 
20   
21        WHEREAS, closing the only road available has turned trips
22   that used to take minutes into drives or bus rides of several
23   hours on routes through Windward and Central Oahu; and
24   
25        WHEREAS, small businesses in the area have seen sales
26   decrease dramatically because of the road block; and
27   
28        WHEREAS, Governor Cayetano recently declared the North
29   Shore an emergency disaster area to expedite the construction
30   of a temporary roadway and safe, well lit pedestrian walkway to
31   provide temporary short-term relief to the current road block;
32   and
33   
34        WHEREAS, North Shore residents need long-term traffic
35   relief that includes not only securing the mountainside and
36   reopening Kamehameha Highway at Waimea Bay, but also
37   consideration of alternative access routes that connect
38   residents to the rest of Oahu and provide emergency access for

 
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                                  H.R. NO.              
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1   residents and visitors to travel the North Shore safely if the
 2   existing single access roadway becomes blocked; now, therefore,
 3   
 4        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
 5   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
 6   of 2000, that the Department of Transportation is requested to
 7   consider the feasibility of establishing alternative access
 8   routes to the North Shore of Oahu to relieve traffic congestion
 9   and delays and to ensure that the health, safety, and welfare
10   of residents and visitors are not jeopardized by the emergency
11   closure of the single access roadway, Kamehameha Highway; and
12   
13        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Transportation
14   is requested to submit a report of findings and recommendations
15   to this body no later than twenty days prior to the convening
16   of the Regular Session of 2001; and
17   
18        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
19   Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation.
20   
21 
22 
23 
24                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________