THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3242
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to transportation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii has experienced significant fatalities and serious injuries on highways and roads. Numerous crashes have occurred near schools and on dangerous roads and intersections where fatalities and injuries regularly occur. Even when dangerous areas are identified, safety improvements can still take years to implement due to lengthy processes, allowing more crashes and fatalities to occur that could have been avoided.

The purpose of this Act is to allow for expedient safety improvements to dangerous areas to help make Hawaii's streets safer.

SECTION 2. Section 291C-107, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The department of transportation or a county shall consider the following factors when setting a maximum speed limit pursuant to section 291C-102:

(1) An engineering study conducted for the road whose maximum speed limit is being set; provided that the engineering study shall include an analysis of the current speed distribution of free-flowing vehicles; provided further that the requirements of this paragraph shall not apply when the department of transportation or any county reduces a maximum speed limit within one mile of a school; and

(2) Any other factors prescribed by the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as amended."

SECTION 3. (a) Departments and county agencies responsible for roads, highways, and similar infrastructure shall define and regularly perform evaluations to identify high risk or dangerous corridors and intersections, based on relevant statistics including crashes, injuries, fatalities, or similar measures.

(b) When identified as a high risk or dangerous corridor or intersection by a department or county agency, plans to address safety and allow access for all users in the corridor or intersection shall be developed and prioritized for implementation.

(c) When rehabilitation or other changes to a high risk or dangerous corridor or intersection are planned or implemented by a department or county agency, priority shall be given to changes that maximize safety and provide access to separated or protected infrastructure that separates vehicles from pedestrians, persons on bicycles and mobility devices, and other vulnerable users.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOT; Road Safety; Infrastructure; Speed Limits; Schools

Description:

Requires departments or county agencies responsible for roads, highways, or similar infrastructure to evaluate high risk or dangerous corridors or intersections and plan strategies for mitigation. Provides that an engineering study is not required to be considered if the Department of Transportation decreases maximum speed limits within one mile of a school.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.