Bill Text: HI HCR185 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution 185 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Intra-island Ferry; Leeward Coast Ferry; Waianae Small Boat Harbor

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-14 - Referred to TRN/WAL, FIN, referral sheet 28 [HCR185 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HCR185-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	185
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN INTRA-ISLAND WATER FERRY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ALONG THE LEEWARD COAST OF OAHU WITH ONE FERRY LANDING ORIGINATING FROM THE WAIANAE SMALL BOAT HARBOR.

WHEREAS, the Legislature, in Act 221, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, authorized the Department of Transportation to implement an intra-island water ferry transportation system with landings at various locations along the southern coast of Oahu as one method to address traffic congestion; and

WHEREAS, Act 221, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, also allowed the Department of Transportation to conduct an intra-island water ferry transportation system demonstration project and transition this project into a permanent project as needed; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu initiated an intra-island ferry system called TheBoat from Kalaeloa to Aloha Tower in 2007, but suspended the service nearly two years later; and

WHEREAS, an intra-island water ferry transportation system is still needed to address traffic congestion and other transportation-related problems in the State, particularly for areas along the leeward coast of Oahu, and with one ferry landing originating from the Waianae small boat harbor, such a system could potentially alleviate these congested traffic conditions; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature in Section 2 of Act 6, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, prohibited any net increase in commercial vessel permits involving ocean-related activities for State small boat harbors for ocean waters between Kalaeloa Point and Kaena Point, so any intra-island water ferry transportation system originating from the Waianae small boat harbor would require an exemption from this prohibition; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Transportation is requested to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing an intra-island water ferry transportation system along the Leeward Coast of Oahu to include:

(1) Identifying appropriate routes and harbors for an intra-island ferry transportation system on the Leeward Coast of Oahu, with the possibility of one ferry landing originating from the Waianae Small Boat Harbor;

(2) Financing options for an intra-island ferry transportation system, including estimates of rates or fees to address operating costs;

(3) Determining requirements for compliance of an intra-island ferry transportation system with the State's environmental protection laws, including chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which determines requirements for environmental impact statements;

(4) Consideration of the operational particulars of an intra-island ferry transportation system, including vessel design and speed, passenger capacity, cargo capacity, automobile capacity, and compatibility with harbor infrastructure; and

(5) The effect that an intra-island ferry transportation system may have on traffic congestion for the commute between the Waianae region and downtown Honolulu during peak traffic periods; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to submit a report of its study including its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the commencement of the 2017 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation, Administrator of Boating and Ocean Recreation, and Harbor Agent of Waianae Small Boat Harbor.