House Transportation committee advances multiple resolutions on sidewalks, speed enforcement, school safety and rural air service

The House Committee on Transportation on March 25 considered and advanced a series of resolutions addressing sidewalks, speed enforcement studies, pedestrian-first policy, school-area traffic safety, rural air service feasibility and other transportation topics. Most measures were passed as introduced or with technical amendments (HD/HD1). Below are the items taken up, the committee action, and key details recorded in the hearing.

HCR 43 / HR 43 (speed enforcement study): Committee amended the measure to HD1 to specify that the study should include the impact on the district courts; the committee voted to pass the amended resolution. Testimony included comments from the Department of Law Enforcement, the judiciary (comments), HDOT and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization.

HCR 52 / HR 48 (sidewalk between Iroquois Point and Ewa Beach): The committee moved the measures out as is after support from multiple registered testifiers.

HCR 57 / HR 53 (traffic mitigation and calming study around Piawa Street, Waipahu): The committee moved the measures as is; several community testifiers registered support.

HCR 112 / HR 108 (urge Honolulu City Council to adopt a pedestrian-first policy): Committee received comments from the Department of Health and multiple advocacy organizations and moved the measures as is.

HCR 129 / HR 125 (Haiku Elementary school pedestrian and traffic safety): The committee moved the measures out as an HD with technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style; the Department of Education provided written comments.

HCR 131 / HR 127 (short takeoff and landing aircraft / rural air service study): The committee accepted Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) changes and moved the measure as an HD to have the State Department of Transportation conduct the requested study (LRB originally recommended the Legislative Reference Bureau take it on). HDOT deputy director said DOT was already working on possible solutions and would document efforts.

HCR 177 / HR 173 (Summer Streets pilot program): Committee moved the measures out as is after support from bicycle and active-transportation advocates.

HCR 40 / HR 43 (emergency access road on the Waianae Coast): Testimony included military affairs council and community supporters; the committee recessed and later returned to move decision making forward. The committee recommended passage in the format recorded on the agenda.

HCR 45 / HR 38 (PUC / other modes including water carriers): Previously heard; committee moved the measures as HD to add clarifying language that other means of transportation include water carriers and made conforming amendments.

Action summary: Most resolutions were advanced as either "passed as is" or with technical amendments (HD/HD1). Committee votes recorded several aye votes and a small number of no votes or reservations on isolated items; the transcript lists excused members on several roll calls.

Details and provenance for each item are preserved in the committee record and written testimony filed for the measures.