Report Title:

Complete Streets; Highways

 

Description:

Establishes that it is a policy of the State to appropriately accommodate all users of the transportation system.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

920

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that most streets, roads, and highways are designed with an emphasis on accommodating increasingly large numbers of motor vehicles.  Relatively little emphasis, however, is placed on safely accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians.  As a result, a disproportionate percentage of traffic accident victims are bicyclists and pedestrians.  In 1999, the United States Department of Transportation issued a guidance memorandum, calling on all transportation agencies to make bicycling and walking a routine part of their planning, design, construction, operations, and maintenance activities.

     The legislature also finds that it is important to make modes of non-motorized transportation more accessible.  One-third of all Americans do not drive, either due to age, medical condition, ability, lifestyle, legal status, or other factors.  Recent opinion polls have found that fifty-two per cent of Americans want to bicycle more, and fifty-five per cent would prefer to drive less and walk more.

     The legislature further finds that legislation based on "complete streets" policies have been enacted in other states and that proposed federal legislation has recently been introduced.  "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 principles" refer to transportation laws, policies, or principles at the state, county, or federal level that ensure that (1) all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit users are adequately accommodated in all phases of project planning and development; and (2) the safety and convenience of all users are considered in all phases of project planning and development.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish that it is a policy of the State to appropriately accommodate all users of the transportation system.

     SECTION 2.  Section 226-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§226-17  Objectives and policies for facility systems--transportation.  (a)  Planning for the State's facility systems with regard to transportation shall be directed towards the achievement of the following objectives:

     (1)  An integrated multi-modal transportation system that services statewide needs and promotes the efficient, economical, safe, and convenient movement of people and goods.

     (2)  A statewide transportation system that is consistent with and will accommodate planned growth objectives throughout the State.

     (b)  To achieve the transportation objectives, it shall be the policy of this State to:

     (1)  Design, program, and develop a multi-modal system in conformance with desired growth and physical development as stated in this chapter;

     (2)  Coordinate state, county, federal, and private transportation activities and programs toward the achievement of statewide objectives;

     (3)  Encourage a reasonable distribution of financial responsibilities for transportation among participating governmental and private parties;

     (4)  Provide for improved accessibility to shipping, docking, and storage facilities;

     (5)  Promote a reasonable level and variety of mass transportation services that adequately meet statewide and community needs;

     (6)  Encourage transportation systems that serve to accommodate present and future development needs of communities;

     (7)  Encourage a variety of carriers to offer increased opportunities and advantages to interisland movement of people and goods;

     (8)  Increase the capacities of airport and harbor systems and support facilities to effectively accommodate transshipment and storage needs;

     (9)  Encourage the development of transportation systems and programs which would assist statewide economic growth and diversification;

    (10)  Encourage the design and development of transportation systems sensitive to the needs of affected communities and the quality of Hawaii's natural environment;

    (11)  Encourage safe and convenient use of low-cost, energy-efficient, non-polluting means of transportation;

    (12)  Coordinate intergovernmental land use and transportation planning activities to ensure the timely delivery of supporting transportation infrastructure in order to accommodate planned growth objectives; [and]

    (13)  Encourage diversification of transportation modes and infrastructure to promote alternate fuels and energy efficiency[.]; and

    (14)  Accommodate safely and conveniently all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and persons of all abilities, in all types of transportation and development projects and through all phases of a project."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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