Report Title:

Transportation; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to update the feasibility study of building a tunnel under Honolulu Harbor. Requires feasibility study to consider expansion of tunnel to include railway technology. Requires identification of available sources of federal and state funding. Appropriates funds. (HB925 HD2)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

925

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF BUILDING A MOTOR VEHICLE AND RAILWAY TUNNEL UNDER HONOLULU HARBOR.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that traffic continues to be one of the most pressing problems confronting our state. Although the size of our population and the number of cars, trucks, and other vehicles continue to grow, the space available to accommodate their movement remains unchanged. As a result, a renewed effort must be made to identify means of improving traffic flow and other methods of moving people and goods.

The legislature further finds that consideration has previously been given to building a tunnel under Honolulu harbor to facilitate traffic flow into downtown Honolulu from the leeward side of Oahu. To that end, the department of transportation studied the feasibility of constructing such a tunnel for the movement of motor vehicles. While action has not been taken to pursue such a tunnel since the study was completed, the demands placed on our transportation infrastructure have only increased since that time, and the need for an alternative such as a tunnel has grown as well.

The legislature further finds that with the renewed push for some form of rail transit, the time has come to update the harbor tunnel study to include the possibility of integrating railway technology into the project.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to update the feasibility study of building a harbor tunnel that can accommodate both motor vehicle traffic and railway technology, to identify possible sources of federal and state funding for such a project, and, thereby, to further the development of an integrated intermodal transportation system that facilitates the safe, efficient, and economic movement of people and goods.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 for the purpose of updating the feasibility study of constructing a tunnel under Honolulu harbor to accommodate both motor vehicles and railway technology, including engineering requirements, costs, and available sources of state and federal funding.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.