Hawaii House Bill HCR60

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/5/24
• Refer: 3/8/24
• Report Pass: 3/28/24
• Refer: 4/3/24
• Engrossed: 3/28/24

Caption

Urging The Department Of Transportation To Work With The City And County Of Honolulu To Plan And Implement Options For Alternative Ingress And Egress Routes In Pacific Palisades.

Impact

The bill addresses significant concerns regarding emergency preparedness in Pacific Palisades, a community noted for its vulnerability to natural disasters such as hurricanes and flash floods. Current access to the area relies heavily on a single winding road, Komo Mai Drive, posing risks during emergencies. The resolution advocates for a review and the implementation of additional routes to ensure safer evacuation and access during crises. By enhancing emergency routes, the resolution aims to provide more reliable and timely evacuations, which were highlighted as deficiencies in responses during past natural disasters.

Summary

HCR60 is a House Concurrent Resolution urging the Department of Transportation in Hawaii to collaborate with the City and County of Honolulu to develop alternative ingress and egress routes for Pacific Palisades. The resolution emphasizes the need for maintaining multiple emergency access roads to enhance public safety. Key considerations are presented concerning the necessity for unobstructed access for emergency vehicles to reduce response times, which is particularly critical in life-threatening situations.

Contention

The resolution highlights the importance of planning in response to insights gained from recent events, like the devastating Maui wildfires. The recent findings from the Lahaina Wildfire Interim Schools Working Group emphasize the critical need for emergency planning, evacuation routes, and traffic mitigation strategies. This resolution positions itself as not only a safety measure but also a proactive approach to preparing communities against foreseeable natural disasters. However, implementation will require adequate funding and resource allocation, potentially leading to discussions about budgetary implications and public priorities in infrastructure development.