EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS

EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS

HONOLULU

June 20, 2003

 

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIONS TO SENATE BILL NO. 464

Honorable Members

Twenty-Second Legislature

State of Hawaii

Pursuant to Section 16 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, I am returning herewith, without my approval, Senate Bill No. 464, entitled "A Bill for an Act Relating to Implementation of a Fixed Rail Transit System."

The purpose of this bill is to address growing traffic congestion problems by requiring the State Department of Transportation, in conjunction with both the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OMPO) and the City and County of Honolulu, to develop an action plan for the implementation of a fixed rail transit system for Oahu.

This bill is objectionable because I have already created a task force that includes representatives of the Legislature, the Honolulu City Council, the Mayor, OMPO, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and both state and city transportation departments to study all possible transportation options that could help alleviate the traffic congestion problem on Oahu. This task force is taking a broad view of the transportation options available, and is looking at a variety of alternatives, including but not limited to rail transit, as a means of addressing this pressing issue that is of tremendous concern to our residents and families on Oahu.

Additionally, I note that the development of the action plan required by this bill would be a large undertaking for which no funding has been provided.

For the foregoing reasons, I am returning Senate Bill No. 464 without my approval.

Respectfully,

 

 

 

LINDA LINGLE

Governor of Hawaii