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HB823
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
823
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to emergency evacuation ROUTES
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that the Waianae
coast, which encompasses communities from Makaha to Kahe Point, relies
predominately on Farrington highway as the area's sole access route.
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This dependency on a single route poses
significant risks during natural disasters or accidents, when the ability to
evacuate quickly is critical.
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Recent
studies and community feedback have highlighted the inadequacy of the area's
emergency access roads, which fail to meet safety and capacity standards.
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Notably, while a new emergency access road is
scheduled to open in Spring 2025, concerns remain regarding the road's capacity
to handle the traffic that would be involved in a large-scale evacuation.
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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to require and appropriate moneys for the
department of transportation, in
collaboration with the city and county of Honolulu, to
assess and develop
an improvement plan for emergency evacuation routes along the Waianae coast.
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SECTION
2.
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(a)
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The department of transportation, in collaboration with the city and
county of Honolulu, shall:
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(1)
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Conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing
emergency access roads along the Waianae coast to determine the state of the
roads and to identify any concerns regarding the roads' safety, capacity, or
accessibility;
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(2)
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Develop a detailed plan to upgrade existing
emergency access roads, or to construct new evacuation routes that meet
established standards for road safety and capacity, to enable residents from
Makaha to Kahe Point to evacuate quickly and safely;
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(3)
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Evaluate the feasibility of restoring and
utilizing unpaved roads, including the roads leading from Waianae to Wailua via
Peacock Flats and roads in the Waianae Valley that were previously used by the
United States military; and
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(4)
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Engage with local residents to gather input
and address concerns related to the proposed evacuation routes.
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(b)
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For purposes of the assessment and plan
required by subsection (a), the department of transportation may request input
and assistance from the United States Navy.
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(c)
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The department shall submit a report of 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
2026.
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SECTION
3.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
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or so much thereof as may be necessary
for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be
necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to assess and develop an improvement plan
for emergency evacuation routes along the Waianae coast.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department
of transportation for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
DOT; USN;
City and County of Honolulu; Emergency Evacuation; Waianae; Report;
Appropriation
Description:
Requires
and appropriates moneys for the Department of Transportation, in collaboration
with the City and County of Honolulu, to
assess and develop an
improvement plan for emergency evacuation routes along the Waianae coast.
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Authorizes the Department to request input
and assistance from the United States Navy.
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Requires a report to the Legislature.
The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.