CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 141-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2008

RE:    H.B. No. 357

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 357, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to increase the safety of pedestrians, especially those who are elderly, by appropriating general funds for the Department of Transportation (DOT) to:

     (1)  Work with the counties and nonprofit organizations to take immediate action to make high-risk crosswalks and roadways safer;

     (2)  Conduct a study to identify intersections at which the time for crossing is too short for elderly pedestrians; and

     (3)  Develop additional plans to make crosswalks and roadways safer for all pedestrians.

     This measure also stipulates that the study conducted by DOT focus on several key points and that DOT submit a report of its findings, accomplishments, future plans, cost estimates, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature.

     Pedestrian fatalities in Hawaii, especially among our elderly population, have often been at an unacceptably high level.  Over the past several years, Hawaii averaged slightly over 30 pedestrian deaths a year, ranking Hawaii high nationally in pedestrian deaths. Your Committee on Conference finds that appropriating funds and taking immediate steps and planning future steps to increase safety at crosswalks, as well as studying which intersections and crosswalks pose great risks for crossing by pedestrians, are important actions that should be undertaken as quickly as possible.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Appropriating $1,000,000 to DOT to conduct a pilot study to identify state and county intersections where the time to cross the intersection is insufficient for elderly pedestrians and to implement immediate improvements to high-risk crosswalks and road crossings; provided that the department may consult with the counties and nonprofit organizations as appropriate for purposes of the pilot study;

     (2)  Deleting language specifically appropriating monies for pedestrian safety measures such as traffic countdown timers, signals, painting of crosswalks, a public awareness campaign, and grants-in-aid for counties;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2008; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 357, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 357, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair	____________________________ JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Co-Chair
____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Co-Chair	____________________________ MARILYN B. LEE, Co-Chair
____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Co-Chair