Bill Text: HI SB211 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating To Highways.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-22 - Referred to TRS/AEN, WAM. [SB211 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB211-Introduced.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

211

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to highways.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Farrington highway is the sole major roadway on Oahu's leeward coast and it is also the sole access route that links the Waianae district to Ewa and points east, including metropolitan Honolulu.  Although west Oahu has experienced exponential growth and development over the last twenty years, transportation infrastructure has not kept pace.  Traffic volume on Farrington highway has increased from an average of twenty thousand vehicles per day in 2000, to fifty thousand vehicles per day in 2016.  Although planned rail and other public transportation expansions, such as more robust bus service, may alleviate some traffic congestion once fully implemented, a solution that depends solely on public transportation is too far in the future and inadequate.  Traffic conditions continue to worsen and frustrated Leeward motorists are caught in gridlock traffic conditions on a daily basis.  The community applauds efforts to address this pressing problem by implementing a contraflow lane, constructing a turn lane, installing infrared sensors and traffic cameras; however, Farrington highway continues to experience lane closures or complete shutdowns on numerous occasions due to road work, traffic accidents, severe weather, and other emergency conditions.

     The legislature further finds that in a coordinated effort between numerous departments and agencies, plans have been put in place to use existing roads as an emergency access and bypass route into the Waianae area during emergency highway closures or other emergency situations.  The system of roads, known as the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road System (WCEAR), consists of gated roads that are under the jurisdiction of the department of emergency management of the city and county of Honolulu that can be opened when it is deemed necessary or when requested by the Honolulu police department.  While use of WCEAR has provided needed relief during recent emergency situations, improvements are still needed.  The residents of the Waianae district bear the largest burden of the current infrastructural insufficiency since they must contend with daily commutes of up to two hours each way for jobs or school.  Additionally, the lack of any alternate route leaves leeward residents more vulnerable to harm in an emergency situation.  There is currently no available route that can be used as an alternative to Farrington highway during times when Farrington highway is impassable.  Coastal residents are at the mercy of traffic conditions for travel within and out of the Waianae district and may be unable to reach emergency services or to timely evacuate the area if the sole available route both through and out of the district is impassable due to storm damage, severe vehicular accidents, or even daily rush hour traffic.

     The legislature additionally finds that any project to alleviate traffic congestion on Oahu's west side must first avoid exacerbating the problem through ongoing lane closures or other disruptions caused by road construction.  It is critical that any project to supply alternate transportation corridors must minimize or, ideally, altogether avoid creating additional transportation barriers for residents of west Oahu and must be completed in a timely manner.

     Therefore, to extradite improvements, the purpose of this Act is to exempt changes and improvements to existing portions of the WCEAR from environmental assessment requirements under chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  Changes and improvements to existing portions of the Waianae coast emergency access road within the Waianae district of Oahu shall be exempt from environmental assessment requirements under chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     (b)  For purposes of this Act, "Waianae district" means the leeward coast of Oahu from Nanakuli to Kaena point that is enclosed by the leeward slopes of the Waianae mountain range.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road; Environmental Assessment; Exemption

 

Description:

Exempts changes and improvements to existing portions of the Waianae coast emergency access road within the Waianae district of Oahu from environmental assessment requirements under chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

 

 

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

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