STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1962

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 133

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 133 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO ESTABLISH SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Transportation to conduct a study to establish safe routes to school.

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

Your Committee finds that transformative change of Hawaii's transportation routes to prioritize walking, rolling, bicycling, and public transit will allow the State to achieve its transportation, public health, education, and clean energy goals. Creating complete, safe routes to schools for Hawaii's students provides safe, convenient, and accessible routes to ensure every student has an opportunity to attend classes without the fear of serious injuries. However, decades of automobile-centric planning and development has created formidable barriers to creating complete, safe, and comfortable bicycle and pedestrian networks. This measure promotes the health and safety of Hawaii's students, including those in rural and low socioeconomic communities, while also prioritizing infrastructure improvements to provide alternative transportation routes and modes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have urged the Department of Transportation to conduct a study to establish safe routes to school;

(2) Inserting language that urges the Department of Transportation to establish safe routes to school in Waipahu;

(3) Deleting language that would have required the Department of Transportation to submit a report to the Legislature;

(4) Inserting language that requests the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, to consider the construction of raised sidewalks and safer crossings in the Waipahu area;

(5) Adding the Director of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu to the list of recipients of certified copies;

(6) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(7) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 133, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 133, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair