STAND. COM. REP. NO.  534-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1361

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1361 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to address the issue of deteriorating roadways in Hawaii by requiring commercial maritime cargo carrying vehicles to meet weigh in, reporting, and other requirements when transporting heavy loads of cargo on Hawaii's roadways.

 

     The Department of Transportation testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Transportation Association testified in opposition to this measure.

 

     The condition of Hawaii's roadways, particularly those on the island of Oahu, has generated a large number of complaints from Hawaii residents at both the State and county levels.  Additionally, claims filed at the State and county levels for damage to motor vehicles due to poor road conditions, such as potholes, are common and appear to be increasing.  While both the State and City and County of Honolulu have tried to address these issues and have made some progress in doing so, much more road repair and repaving work remains.

 

     Your Committee finds that besides the sheer volume of traffic, another factor exacerbating the wear and tear on Hawaii's public roadways is use of the roadways by large vehicles that transport heavy loads of cargo shipped into the State and that regulating cargo carrier's use of public roadways by implementing weight verification requirements may be a means of extending the life of Hawaii's roadways.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     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. 1361, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1361, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair