STAND. COM. REP. NO.  55

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 64

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 64 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HARBORS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to help alleviate traffic congestion on public roadways, especially on the western end of the island of Oahu by:

 

     (1)  Allowing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to partner with a private developer to purchase or lease land for an intra-island ferry or water taxi service for West Oahu; and

 

     (2)  Requiring DOT to involve the City and County of Honolulu in the planning to provide bus service to the areas these modes of transportation will serve.

 

     The Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, Ocean Tourism Coalition, and two concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  DOT and the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu commented on this measure.

 

     Current population growth statewide continues to push highways and public roadways to the point of capacity.  The lack of a quick and reliable alternative method of commuting other than the bus system on Oahu only adds to the demands placed on state and county roadways.  One method of relieving this pressure is through the use of an intra-island water ferry system.

 

     With the State and the City and County of Honolulu directing new development and population growth to West Oahu, adequate transportation will be necessary to alleviate the resulting increase in traffic congestion.  A viable alternative to surface transportation is ocean transportation furnished by ferries and water taxis.

 

Your Committee notes that an intra-island water ferry demonstration project was completed by DOT and that the economic feasibility of this commuter ferry could not be substantiated.  Nevertheless, alternative methods of mass transit need to be pursued and this measure warrants further discussion.

 

     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. 64 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