THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3242
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

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 serious motor vehicle accidents are a growing concern in the State. Numerous crashes have occurred near schools and there are a number of dangerous roads and intersections where fatalities and serious injuries regularly occur. Even when dangerous areas are identified, safety improvements can still take years to implement due to lengthy processes, resulting in more accidents 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 by:

(1) Requiring the department of transportation and county transportation agencies to define, regularly identify, and address high-risk and dangerous corridors and intersections; and

(2) Authorizing the department of transportation and county transportation agencies to reduce the maximum speed limits within one mile of a school without first conducting an engineering study.

SECTION 2. Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§291C- High-risk and dangerous corridors and intersections. (a) The department of transportation and county transportation agencies having jurisdiction over roads, highways, and similar infrastructure shall:

(1) 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; and

(2) Develop and prioritize for implementation plans to address safety and allow access for all users in each corridor or intersection identified as high-risk or dangerous.

(b) When rehabilitation or other changes to a high-risk or dangerous corridor or intersection are planned or implemented by the department of transportation or county transportation 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 3. 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 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DOT; Road Safety; Infrastructure; Speed Limits; Schools

Description:

Requires the Department of Transportation or county transportation agency having jurisdiction over 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 or any county decreases maximum speed limits within one mile of a school. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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