STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1592

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   S.B. No. 1535

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1535, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Director of Transportation to exempt certain ground transportation facility plans from historic preservation requirements and the environmental impact statement law, subject to certain conditions.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, and Hawaii Bicycling League.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's roads are reportedly the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians aged sixty-five and over.  Your Committee further finds that simple traffic safety fixes often take five to seven years to implement.  This measure enables critical safety projects to be implemented faster to reduce traffic-related fatalities and improve road and transportation safety.

 

     Your Committee notes the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development's testimony indicating that the activities contemplated by this measure may already qualify for existing exemptions available under chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and its rules from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment, so long as the exemptions are documented and reported to the public.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1535, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair