STAND. COM. REP. NO. 26

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 718

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 718 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to direct the Department of Transportation to adopt a complete streets policy with regard to future transportation projects.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, Sierra Club Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Bicycling League, Peoples Advocacy for Trails Hawaii, Na Kama Hele, One Voice, Hawaii Public Health Association, Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, Hawaii Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, AARP, and two individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Transportation.

 

     "Complete streets" means roadways that accommodate all travelers, particularly users of public transit, bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists to enable all users to use the roadway safely and efficiently.  Complete streets policies are designed to ensure that:  all users of the transportation system, of all ages and physical ability, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit users are adequately accommodated in all phases of project planning and development; and the safety and convenience of all users are considered in all phases of project planning and development.

 

     Your Committee finds that the time is right to commence transportation planning for the State and counties to accommodate all users of streets, roads, and highways, particularly in view of the increased use by bicyclists and pedestrians.  Your Committee believes that this measure is a start in that direction.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting provisions to:

 

     (1)  Require the State and counties to adopt a complete streets policy to seek to reasonably accommodate convenient access and mobility for all users of the public highways and trails system as established under current law, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and persons of all abilities;

 

     (2)  Apply the complete streets policy to highways, roads, streets, ways, and lanes located within urban, suburban, and rural areas, where appropriate for the application of complete streets;

 

     (3)  Exempt application of the complete streets policy under specified conditions;

 

     (4)  Apply the complete streets policy to any development for which planning or design commences on or after January 1, 2010; and

 

     (5)  Establish a temporary task force, on the recommendation of the Department of Transportation, to review existing state and county highway design standards and guidelines, with an interim report to the Legislature in 2010, and a final report in 2011, including proposed legislation, for the purpose of:

 

          (A)  Determining standards and guidelines that can be established to apply statewide and within each county in order to provide consistency for all highway users;

 

          (B)  Proposing changes to state and county design standards and guidelines; and

 

          (C)  Developing a comprehensive complete streets policy that can be feasibly implemented.

 

     In the proceedings of the task force, your Committee requests the Department of Transportation to:

 

     (1)  Be cognizant of and to abide by section 10 of article IX, of the Hawaii State Constitution, which is the law of the splintered paddle; and

 

     (2)  Promote interchange and collaboration with the counties, in order to reach mutually agreeable results.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 718, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 718, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair