Bill Text: HI HCR47 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting That The Department Of Transportation Conduct A Study On The Need And Feasibility Of Establishing A Government-subsidized Ferry Service Between The Islands Of Maui And Molokai.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-1)
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-05 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HCR47 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2017-HCR47-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
47 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE need and FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A government-subsidized ferry service between the islands of Maui and Molokai.
WHEREAS, unlike other states, Hawaii is an island state that is not linked to other states, cities, or towns via the federal interstate highway system or a network of interconnected state and local highways; and
WHEREAS, Sea Link began providing regular ferry service between Kaunakakai, Molokai and Lahaina, Maui in 1987, serving as a critical and essential lifeline for Molokai residents; and
WHEREAS, when initiated, the state-subsidized ferry service served as a convenient way for Molokai residents to travel to and from employment on West Maui and served as an affordable alternative to air travel; and
WHEREAS, the State ended subsidies to the ferry service in 1996, and ridership declined in the face of competition from federally subsidized commuter air travel; and
WHEREAS, traveling by air may not be possible or practical for persons with certain disabilities; and
WHEREAS, it is less feasible for high school athletic teams to travel between Molokai and Maui by air because of the high costs of transporting dozens of students, along with heavy and bulky athletic equipment; and
WHEREAS, high school athletic teams on both Molokai and Maui relied heavily on the ferry service as the only cost- effective way to travel between the two islands; and
WHEREAS, when the Molokai ferry service ended, Sea Link stated that it would be very difficult for a heavily regulated, nonsubsidized ferry service to operate in the face of competition with air travel options that are heavily subsidized by the federal government; and
WHEREAS, since the closure of the Molokai ferry service in October 2016, air transportation has been the only option for travel between Molokai and the other major islands; and
WHEREAS, a renewed ferry service between the islands of Molokai and Maui would provide a practical, cost-effective way for residents, visitors, and workers to travel between the two islands, and provide a safe way for those with disabilities to travel interisland; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Transportation is requested to study the need for and feasibility of establishing a government-subsidized interisland ferry system between the islands of Molokai and Maui; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to consider the potential costs, financing options, and parameters of a ferry system; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to also consider whether use of a ferry system would be advantageous for visitors, school athletic teams, and those who require disability accommodations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is requested to report 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 2018; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Interisland Ferry; Molokai Ferry; Study
