SCR140 SD1

WHEREAS, green highways have been implemented across the world to promote sustainability, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the quality of life for communities along highways; and

WHEREAS, green highways contribute to island heat mitigation by incorporating features such as green infrastructure, shade trees, and reflective pavements, which help lower temperatures and combat urban heat island effects; and

WHEREAS, beautification efforts along green highways include landscaping with native plants, creating aesthetically pleasing landscapes that enhance the visual appeal of highway corridors, and providing habitat for local wildlife; and

WHEREAS, green highways offer numerous benefits, including improved air and water quality, reduced noise pollution, enhanced biodiversity, and increased recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike; and

WHEREAS, green highways also promote sustainable transportation options such as walking and biking trails, electric vehicle charging stations, and public transit access, reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and lowering greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of a green highway program aligns with statewide goals for environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and sustainable development, contributing to a healthier and more resilient future for the State's communities; and

WHEREAS, a new green highway stretch in Norway, known as "the Green Shortcut" (Den Grønne Snarvei), has significantly reduced journey times and environmental impact between Oslo and Trondheim; and

WHEREAS, considering the positive impact of green highways on communities worldwide, the Department of Transportation must take proactive steps to explore and implement similar initiatives in the State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the House of Representatives concurring, that a task force is requested to be convened to research and develop a green highway program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to include the following members or their designees:

(1) A representative from the Department of Transportation, selected and invited by the chairpersons of the task force;

(2) A representative from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, selected and invited by the chairpersons of the task force;

(3) A representative with expertise in arboriculture, selected and invited by the chairpersons of the task force; and

(4) Any other representative with subject matter expertise, selected and invited by the chairpersons of the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives are requested to appoint the co-chairpersons of the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to:

(1) Develop green highway standards to address urban temperatures, stormwater retention, unsightly infrastructure impacting tourism, and mental health; and

(2) Examine best examples and practices in places that successfully implement green highway infrastructure; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation and Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Report Title:

DOT; Green Highways; Task Force; Report

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	140
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII