SB464 CD1

Report Title:

Fixed Rail System; Monorail; Implementation; DOT

Description:

Requires DOT, in conjunction with both the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization and the City and County of Honolulu, to develop an action plan for implementation of a fixed rail transit system or monorail on Oahu. (CD1)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	464
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO IMPLEMENTATION OF A FIXED RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the traffic situation in downtown Honolulu, especially during morning and evening rush hours, remains intolerable. At the present rate of growth and development, the transportation needs of Honolulu commuters will soon exceed the capabilities of the existing highway system. Many solutions have been proposed to address peak rush hour traffic congestion, but so far no wide-scale traffic alleviation measures have been implemented.

The legislature also finds that action must be taken to address the traffic congestion and other transportation-related problems for Oahu. In 1992, the city and county of Honolulu explored the feasibility of developing a fixed rail system to ease Oahu's traffic congestion. After a lengthy period of study and planning, the project ultimately was not approved by the Honolulu city council.

The legislature further finds that if a fixed rail transit system is not feasible or practical, a shorter monorail, which is similar in many respects, may be appropriate.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of transportation, in conjunction with the Oahu metropolitan planning organization and the city and county of Honolulu, to develop an action plan for the implementation of a fixed rail transit system or monorail.

SECTION 2. The department of transportation, in conjunction with the Oahu metropolitan planning organization and the department of transportation services of the city and county of Honolulu, shall develop an action plan for the implementation of a fixed rail transit system or monorail for Oahu, describing site selection and feasibility, structure of the transit operations and facility development, economic analyses and financing, permits and approvals, and design and construction. The department of transportation shall submit the plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 regular session.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon approval.