REPORT TITLE:
Highway design
DESCRIPTION:
Directs DOT to establish new design guidelines to govern new
construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, or
rehabilitation of bridges, principal and minor arterial roads,
collector and local roads, and streets. (SB2301 HD2)
3201
THE SENATE S.B. NO. S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000 H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO A SCENIC HIGHWAYS SYSTEM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
1 SECTION 1. Hawaii's rural communities are the heart and
2 soul of the islands, where the aloha spirit and natural resources
3 are truly the essence of our State. As urbanization spreads
4 throughout Hawaii, these communities are at risk of losing their
5 unique identities, especially when planning for roadway
6 construction that must meet certain highway standards. The
7 standards that most highway designers reference are based on "A
8 Policy on the Geometric Designs of Highways and Streets"
9 (commonly called the "Green Book") published by the American
10 Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. These
11 standards are not inflexible. As a companion to the Green Book,
12 the Federal Highway Administration has published "Flexibility in
13 Highway Design," which encourages highway designers to expand
14 their consideration in applying the Green Book criteria. It
15 further states, "This guide should be viewed as a useful tool to
16 help highway designers, environmentalists, and the public move
17 further along the path to sensitively designed highways and
18 streets by identifying some possible approaches that fully
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1 consider aesthetic, historic, and scenic values, along with
2 safety and mobility."
3 When Congress passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation
4 Efficiency Act (ISTEA) in 1991, it recognized the importance of
5 good design that is sensitive to its surrounding environment,
6 especially in historic and scenic areas. Aesthetic, scenic,
7 historic, cultural, and natural resources of an area are
8 important factors that create a sense of place and provide
9 communities with an identity. Section 1016(a) of ISTEA states:
10 "If a proposed project involves a historic facility or is located
11 in an area of historic or scenic value, the Secretary may approve
12 the project if the project is designed to allow for the
13 preservation of such historic or scenic value and such project is
14 designed with mitigation measures to allow preservation of such
15 value and ensure safe use of the facility."
16 In 1995, Congress strengthened this position in the National
17 Highway System Act in section 304 that states: "A design for new
18 construction, reconstruction, resurfacing (except for maintenance
19 surfacing), restoration, or rehabilitation of a highway on the
20 National Highway System (other than a highway also on the
21 Interstate System) may take into account, in addition to safety,
22 durability, and economy of maintenance:
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1 (1) The constructed and natural environment of the area;
2 (2) The environmental, scenic, aesthetic, historic,
3 community, and preservation impacts of the activity;
4 and
5 (3) Access for the other modes of transportation."
6 By passage of the federal act, Congress gave the state the
7 flexibility to develop and apply criteria they deem appropriate
8 for federal-aid projects not on the national Highway System. The
9 legislature finds that there is a federal policy framework that
10 encourages creativity and sensitivity, while achieving safety and
11 efficiency. This policy framework recommends early
12 identification of critical project issues and encourages thorough
13 consideration of community concerns and input prior to major
14 decisions that can severely limit all other options.
15 The legislature finds that organizations such as the
16 Alliance for the Heritage of East Maui, the Hanalei Road
17 Committee on Kauai, and the Hamakua-Honokaa Heritage Corridor on
18 the Big Island, are exploring and supporting concepts such as
19 scenic byway or heritage corridor programs. Work is also in
20 progress to recognize the upper Kona road on the Big Island and
21 Ka Iwi coastal highway stretch on Oahu as important scenic and
22 historic corridors. These organizations, which represent their
23 communities' desires, need alternative design guidelines to be
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1 adopted by the department of transportation to provide and meet
2 community concerns with regard to natural, cultural, historic,
3 and scenic resources.
4 It is the intent of the legislature to encourage the highest
5 quality design to ensure that road and bridge projects adequately
6 meet the State's transportation needs, exist in harmony with
7 their surroundings, and add value to the communities they serve.
8 SECTION 2. (a) On or before June 30, 2003, the director of
9 transportation shall establish new design guidelines to govern
10 new construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, or
11 rehabilitation of bridges, principal and minor arterial roads,
12 collector and local roads, and streets. The guidelines shall
13 take into account:
14 (1) Safety, durability, and economy of maintenance;
15 (2) The constructed and natural environment of the area;
16 (3) The potential effects on the local and state economies;
17 (4) The community development plans as reflected in
18 relevant county ordinances;
19 (5) The environmental, scenic, aesthetic, historic,
20 community, and preservation impacts of the activity;
21 (6) Access for other modes of transportation; and
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1 (7) Access to and integration of sites deemed culturally
2 and historically significant to the communities
3 affected.
4 (b) In establishing the guidelines described under this
5 section, the director shall solicit and consider the views of
6 elected officials and organizations, including but not limited
7 to:
8 (1) Those with expertise in:
9 (A) Environmental protection;
10 (B) Historic preservation;
11 (C) Scenic conservation;
12 (D) Bicycle and pedestrian transportation; and
13 (E) Regional councils of government;
14 (2) Rural development councils;
15 (3) The state foundation on culture an the arts commission;
16 and
17 (4) The Federal Highway Administration.
18 SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.