URGING THE COUNTIES TO INTEGRATE THE SAFE SYSTEM APPROACH INTO ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION DESIGN, ESPECIALLY WHEN REDUCING OR ELIMINATING OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS, TO INCREASE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

SR87

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

87

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

Urging the counties to integrate the safe system approach
into road and transportation design, especially when reducing or eliminating
off-street parking requirements, to increase pedestrian safety
.

����
WHEREAS, to
facilitate increased housing development, the counties have reduced or removed
off-street parking requirements for certain developments, which, in turn, has
caused the demand for on-street parking to increase substantially; and

����
WHEREAS, many
narrow streets and rural roads do not have paved sidewalks for children, their
parents, and other residents to use when traversing their neighborhoods and
traveling to schools, parks, businesses, and other community spaces; and

����
WHEREAS, the
sides of these narrow streets and rural roads are often obstructed by parked
cars due to the increased demand for on-street parking, which forces children,
families, and residents to walk on the roadways; and

����
WHEREAS, drivers
are often unable to see young children over the hoods of their parked cars,
creating dangerous and potentially fatal situations; and

����
WHEREAS, vehicles
are a necessity for many residents who must commute long distances or transport
tools for work; and

����
WHEREAS, vehicles
are also necessary for residents who must transport elderly or disabled friends
and relatives; and

����
WHEREAS, the
elimination of off-street parking must be balanced with the counties'
investment in infrastructure that prioritizes pedestrian safety, acknowledges
the unique needs of blue-collar commuters, and addresses the transportation
needs of kupuna; and

����
WHEREAS, the
United States Department of Transportation has adopted the Safe System Approach
as a guiding paradigm to address roadway safety and protect the most vulnerable
users of transportation systems; and

����
WHEREAS, the
Safe System Approach builds on and reinforces multiple layers of protection to
prevent crashes from happening and to minimize harm when crashes do occur; and

����
WHEREAS, to
create safer roads, the Safe System Approach recommends that roadways be
designed to mitigate human mistakes and to account for injury tolerances using
proven safety countermeasures such as crosswalk visibility enhancements,
medians and pedestrian refuge islands, bicycle lanes, and rumble strips; and

����
WHEREAS, the federal
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act established the Safe Streets and Roads
for All competitive grant program, which appropriated $5,000,000,000 over five
years, from fiscal years 2022 to 2026, to fund regional, local, and Tribal
initiatives through grants to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries
using Safe System Approach principles; and

����
WHEREAS, in
fiscal year 2023, Hawaii was awarded $18,630,400 in grants through the Safe
Streets and Roads for All program to fund various projects to improve roadway
and pedestrian safety in all four counties; and

����
WHEREAS,
Hawaii was awarded an additional $3,850,000 in grants through the Safe Streets
and Roads for All program for fiscal year 2024 for pedestrian and bikeway
safety projects in the City and County of Honolulu; and

����
WHEREAS, the
counties must further prioritize the Safe System Approach to protect
pedestrians, especially when off‑street parking requirements are reduced
or eliminated; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the counties are urged to integrate the Safe
System Approach into road and transportation design, especially when reducing
or eliminating off-street parking requirements, to increase pedestrian safety; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Mayor
of each county; Chairperson of each County Council; and the Director of each
county department having jurisdiction over transportation planning.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Counties;
Transportation; Road Design; Pedestrian Safety; Safe System Approach; Safe
Streets and Roads for All