STAND. COM. REP. 275

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 966

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 966 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect the beauty of our islands by:

 

(1) Requiring that the Director of Transportation install all utility cables and facilities underground when there is a determination that state highway funds are available to pay for the cost differential between underground and overhead facilities; and

(2) Providing funding for the installation of underground utilities along state highways that are not federally funded.

Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, and three Maui County council members testified in support of this bill.

 

There have been numerous state highway projects that required the relocation of existing overhead utility lines. Those affected by these types of projects often request that the existing overhead lines be converted to underground utilities for aesthetic reasons. However, this usually does not happen because of lack of funding. This bill will enable the Department of Transportation to implement these types of projects.

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. 966 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