STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1316

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 304

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 304, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Transportation, or an appropriate county agency, to post depth gauge signs on any portion of a public highway within a special flood hazard zone; and

(2) Appropriate funds to post depth gauge signs on public highways within a special flood hazard zone.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and one individual.

Your Committee finds that depth gauge signs alert drivers that the area is a potential flood zone. Your Committee believes that given the recent events of severe flooding throughout the State, particularly in the County of Kauai, depth gauge signs will act as a supplemental device to notify the public to exert caution when driving in potentially dangerous flood hazard areas. This measure will increase public safety by explicitly showing where flood hazard areas are located.

Your Committee notes the testimony of the Department of Transportation that each intersection requiring depth gauge signs would require four depth gauge signs at a cost of $1,000 for each sign, or $4,000 for each intersection.

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. 304, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair