STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1700

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 29

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 29 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TO DETERMINE THE COST OF PLACING AN OVERPASS OVER THE H-1 FREEWAY TO EXTEND BETWEEN NUUANU STREAM AND QUEEN EMMA STREET THAT WOULD REDUCE TRAFFIC NOISE POLLUTION AND BE USED AS A PARK OR OTHER COMMUNITY USE PURPOSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address noise pollution emanating from the H-1 freeway and the lack of parks in the downtown area of Honolulu.

     More specifically, this measure requests the Department of Accounting and General Services, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, to determine the cost of placing an overpass over the H-1 freeway, to extend from Nuuanu Stream to Queen Emma Street, that would reduce traffic noise pollution and provide space that could be used as a community park or other community resource.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Transportation.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Accounting and General Services.

     Your Committee finds that the H-1 freeway is the most utilized freeway in the State and that, during all hours of each day, many residents who live near the H-1 freeway are subjected to excessive traffic noise pollution emanating from passing cars.  Your Committee also finds that constructing an overpass with sufficient structural capacity to support open green space, such as a park, would provide a dual benefit of reducing traffic noise pollution from the H-1 freeway and creating additional park space in the downtown area of Honolulu.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 29, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair