Hawaii House Bill HR43

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/5/24
• Refer: 3/8/24
• Report Pass: 3/28/24
• Passed: 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 resolution reflects a critical public safety measure, emphasizing that maintaining emergency access roads with more than one way in and out of a community is vital. Pacific Palisades, being susceptible to natural disasters such as hurricanes and flash floods, is particularly at risk with its current reliance on a single, challenging access route. By seeking solutions for alternative routes, HR43 aims to enhance community preparedness and decrease emergency response times, catering to the safety of residents as well as mitigating potential risks during emergencies.

Summary

House Resolution 43 (HR43) urges the Department of Transportation of Hawaii to collaborate with the City and County of Honolulu to plan and implement alternative ingress and egress routes for the Pacific Palisades community. In light of the recent Maui wildfires, which highlighted the vulnerabilities of areas like Pacific Palisades with limited access routes, this resolution underscores the necessity of having multiple emergency access points for effective evacuation and response efforts during disasters.

Contention

While the resolution is aimed at improving public safety, it may face challenges related to logistics and funding for the implementation of additional routes. Concerns may arise regarding the feasibility of constructing new access points, the impact on existing traffic patterns, and community support for such developments. Thus, ensuring a balance between safety improvements and community interests will be critical as the Department of Transportation and local authorities begin to explore and propose these alternative routes.