HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.C.R. NO. 211 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 STATE OF HAWAII HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Urging the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Department of Human Resources Development to evaluate subsidizing public transit for public employees.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.C.R. NO. 211
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.C.R. NO.
211
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
Urging the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Department of Human Resources Development to evaluate subsidizing public transit for public employees.
WHEREAS, it is a policy and goal of the State to decarbonize our economy by 2045 and to achieve zero fossil fuel emissions in the transportation sector; and WHEREAS, vehicle miles traveled, or VMT, is a proxy for measuring ground transportation emissions and the robustness of transportation options; and WHEREAS, the reduction of VMT improves health, environmental, and economic outcomes for all residents, and is an integral part of reaching the State's zero emissions goal; and WHEREAS, reducing VMT requires support for alternative forms of transportation and a reduction of private vehicle usage; and WHEREAS, emissions per passenger mile on public transit, such as buses or rail, are far lower than private vehicles, and even lower when ridership is higher; and WHEREAS, support for public transit also has other net positive benefits including better land use and improved air quality; and WHEREAS, the State should lead by example and incentivize multimodal public transportation for its employees; and WHEREAS, there is an existing pilot program for full-time employees of the executive branch to deduct the cost of bus passes pre-tax, which could be expanded to offer more generous incentives and include temporary and part-time state employees; and WHEREAS, subsidies are already provided to some state employees who drive private vehicles, in the form of workplace parking in state facilities at rates that are far below market rates for dedicated parking; and WHEREAS, providing free or subsidized public transportation access would greatly incentivize state employees to utilize options like bus or rail transit systems; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Human Resources Development are urged to collaboratively evaluate options to encourage the use and subsidize the cost of public transportation for state employees; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, Director of Human Resources Development, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of Transportation, Chief Energy Officer, Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Co-Chairs of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: DAGS; DHRD; Public Transportation; State Employees; Subsidies
WHEREAS, it is a policy and goal of the State to decarbonize our economy by 2045 and to achieve zero fossil fuel emissions in the transportation sector; and
WHEREAS, vehicle miles traveled, or VMT, is a proxy for measuring ground transportation emissions and the robustness of transportation options; and
WHEREAS, the reduction of VMT improves health, environmental, and economic outcomes for all residents, and is an integral part of reaching the State's zero emissions goal; and
WHEREAS, reducing VMT requires support for alternative forms of transportation and a reduction of private vehicle usage; and
WHEREAS, emissions per passenger mile on public transit, such as buses or rail, are far lower than private vehicles, and even lower when ridership is higher; and
WHEREAS, support for public transit also has other net positive benefits including better land use and improved air quality; and
WHEREAS, the State should lead by example and incentivize multimodal public transportation for its employees; and
WHEREAS, there is an existing pilot program for full-time employees of the executive branch to deduct the cost of bus passes pre-tax, which could be expanded to offer more generous incentives and include temporary and part-time state employees; and
WHEREAS, subsidies are already provided to some state employees who drive private vehicles, in the form of workplace parking in state facilities at rates that are far below market rates for dedicated parking; and
WHEREAS, providing free or subsidized public transportation access would greatly incentivize state employees to utilize options like bus or rail transit systems; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Human Resources Development are urged to collaboratively evaluate options to encourage the use and subsidize the cost of public transportation for state employees; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, Director of Human Resources Development, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of Transportation, Chief Energy Officer, Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Co-Chairs of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission.
OFFERED BY: _____________________________
OFFERED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DAGS; DHRD; Public Transportation; State Employees; Subsidies