Report Title:

Waianae Coast; Alternate Highway

Description:

Directs the OMPO Policy Committee to include the Waianae second access road project in the TOP 2025 and identify immediate sources of funding for the project, including priority of the project in the Oahu transportation improvement program.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1248

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the oahu metropolitan planning organization.

 

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

SECTION 1. The Oahu metropolitan planning organization is responsible for developing the long-range regional transportation plan for surface transportation development on Oahu. Inclusion of a project in the regional transportation plan allows a project to be eligible for federal funding and to begin a series of more detailed evaluations. In April 2001, the Oahu metropolitan planning organization policy committee approved Oahu's most current regional transportation plan, the transportation for Oahu plan 2025, or TOP 2025.

The Oahu metropolitan planning organization also produces the Oahu transportation improvement program, a three-year document that programs federal funds for city and state surface transportation projects. The Oahu transportation improvement program, adopted by the Oahu metropolitan planning organization policy committee and approved by the governor, is part of the statewide transportation improvement program, the document upon which the United States Department of Transportation bases its obligation of federal funds for transportation projects in Hawaii. All projects identified in the Oahu transportation improvement program must be consistent with the TOP 2025.

The TOP 2025 also identifies illustrative projects that are outside the scope of the regional transportation plan, but may be considered for inclusion in the plan should funds become available. Illustrative projects do not become eligible for federal funding until, among other things, a funding source is identified and the project is included in the regional transportation plan.

The Waianae second access road across the Waianae range is included in the TOP 2025 as an illustrative project. Although the policy committee selected the project as top priority for future funding among illustrative projects, its estimated cost of $515,000,000 in the year 2000 could not support inclusion of the project in the TOP 2025 at the time.

The legislature finds that immediate action is necessary to address the critical need for an alternate route to the Waianae Coast to alleviate traffic congestion and accommodate the growing population on the Leeward side of Oahu.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the Oahu metropolitan planning organization policy committee to include the Waianae second access road project in the TOP 2025 and identify immediate sources of funding for the project, including priority of the project in the Oahu transportation improvement program.

SECTION 2. The Oahu metropolitan planning organization policy committee shall:

(1) Amend the transportation for Oahu plan 2025 to include the Waianae second access road project; and

(2) Identify immediate sources of funding for the Waianae second access road project, including to the extent possible, priority of the project in the Oahu transportation improvement program.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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