House committee approves amendment directing Maui public works, DOE and DOT to study Haiku Elementary traffic and pedestrian safety

The House Committee on Education voted to pass HCR129/HR125 HD1, directing the Department of Transportation, the Department of Education and the Maui County Department of Public Works to collaborate on proposals to improve pedestrian and traffic safety and relieve congestion around Haiku Elementary School.

The resolution was amended to correct the county agency named in the draft and to update the title and distribution list. Chair Latika said, "in the resolution where it says Department of Transportation of the County of Maui, we will be replacing it with Maui County Department of Public Works, and we will also update the title and distribution list to reflect the change." The committee passed out an HD 2 reflecting that change.

Student Transportation Services Administrator Megan O'Mora testified in person on behalf of the Department of Education and "stood on our written testimony." Committee members did not request further questions of the department during the oral record.

The committee voted to adopt the chair's recommendation to pass the measure with amendments. Recorded aye votes included the chair and vice chair, Representative Evslin (recorded as voting aye), Representatives Garrett, Coppell, Keeler, Sayama, Murooka, and Souza; Representatives Woodson and Amato were excused. The chair announced that the recommendation was adopted.

The amended HD 2 will be circulated to reflect the agency name change; the resolution directs the named agencies to propose viable engineering, signage, crossing and traffic-management options to improve safety and reduce congestion near the school.

Staff and the Department of Transportation will be the next contacts for implementing the study and for any follow-up reporting requested by the committee. No budget appropriation or specific timeline was included in the resolution text passed by the committee.