Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB965 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 965 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 S.D. 2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GREEN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 965
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 S.D. 2
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.B. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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15	15	S.D. 2
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	RELATING TO GREEN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that sustainable design concepts for public infrastructure incorporate green vegetation and trees to decrease urban temperatures, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and capture water to replenish the water table. The effects of climate change have made the implementation of sustainable design concepts more critical, as each passing year has seen increased temperatures and other impacts from climate change. The legislature also finds that studies have determined that people who live in areas that have more trees and green space are less likely to develop acute respiratory symptoms and die of heart disease or respiratory disease. Studies have also found that green vegetation, trees, and properly designed and well-maintained infrastructure can also produce significant improvements to mental health and have positive psychological and quality of life benefits in a community. For example, The Walt Disney Company uses these principles in park design, including painting of infrastructure such as trash cans and streetlights in a standard shade of neutral green to blend into the surrounding environment to improve the quality of experience for visitors. Similar practices can be done in local communities to produce mental health and quality of life benefits. The legislature further finds that Hawaii is world-renowned for its lush vegetation, and residents and tourists actively seek out green spaces. Increasing the number of parks and green spaces in Honolulu's urban core will increase the quality of life of residents and visitors. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to improve the quality of life in the State by: (1) Establishing objectives and policies for transportation systems, infrastructure, and projects to incorporate green infrastructure; and (2) Establishing a green transportation infrastructure task force to examine, evaluate, and develop best practices for the department of transportation to further guide, design, implement, and maintain green transportation infrastructure in transportation systems and projects. SECTION 2. Chapter 264, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "§264- Green transportation infrastructure. (a) Planning for transportation systems, infrastructure, and projects shall incorporate green infrastructure to achieve the following climate and sustainability design objectives: (1) Minimizing stormwater runoff and replenishment of the water table; (2) Reducing the urban heat island effect by providing shade that reduces heat absorption over hardened surfaces; (3) Providing cooler shaded transit for pedestrians, bicycle users, and micro-mobility device users; and (4) Encouraging the removal, sequestration, and storage of pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. (b) Planning for transportation systems, infrastructure, and projects shall use green infrastructure to achieve life design objectives, including: (1) Creating a visual and sound barrier between vehicles and other modes of pedestrian, bicycle, and multi‑modal transit to enhance the quality of transportation; (2) Creating a visual and sound barrier between vehicles and surrounding communities to enhance quality of life; (3) Incorporating live foliage, trees, and green infrastructure, to the greatest extent possible, to blend transportation infrastructure into the State's natural environment and reflect a state sense of place; (4) Finishing non-travel exterior exposed appurtenances and hardened surfaces not covered in foliage or green infrastructure with a standardized paint scheme to protect against weathering, blend appropriately with the State's natural environment, and enhance a state sense of place; and (5) Requiring the department of transportation and its contractors to adopt uniform best practices when planting, caring for, and maintaining trees and green infrastructure by following ANSI A300 standards for tree care practices. (c) The director of transportation may grant exemptions to certain projects in instances in which safety is a concern or the director otherwise deems it necessary. (d) As used in this section, "green infrastructure" means the range of measures that use plant, tree, or soil systems having an expected life span of at least twenty years to reduce carbon footprints, enhance shade, reduce temperatures, reduce stormwater flow to sewer systems or surface waters, and satisfy the State's climate and sustainability goals." SECTION 3. Section 264-143, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) When planning, designing, and implementing ground transportation infrastructure for each project pursuant to this part, the department shall endeavor to: (1) Assess and maximize total throughput of people across all modes of transportation; (2) Achieve any goals described in the complete streets policy adopted pursuant to section 264-20.5; (3) Reduce vehicle miles traveled; (4) Decrease the percentage of single occupancy vehicles in the State's mode share; (5) Provide equity for all communities and users; (6) Improve safety and achieve any goals described in the vision zero policy adopted pursuant to section 286‑7.5; (7) Reduce user cost of transportation; (8) Improve public health; (9) Reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses to meet state renewable portfolio standards established in section 269-92 and zero emissions clean economy by 2045 pursuant to section 225P-5; (10) Reduce [urban] temperatures and provide for cooler transit by incorporating green infrastructure [tree canopy and foliage over hardened surfaces;] pursuant to section 264- ; and (11) Beautify public infrastructure." SECTION 4. (a) There is established the green transportation infrastructure task force to be placed in the department of transportation for administrative purposes. The green transportation infrastructure task force shall examine, evaluate, and develop best practices to guide the design, implementation, and maintenance of green transportation infrastructure pursuant to section 264- , Hawaii Revised Statutes. (b) The task force shall consist of the following members: (1) One member appointed by the president of the senate and one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall serve as co-chairpersons of the task force; (2) One representative from the department of transportation highways division; (3) One representative from the department of land and natural resources; (4) One representative from the climate change mitigation and adaptation commission; (5) One representative from the office of planning and sustainable development; (6) On representative from the Hawaii tourism authority; (7) One representative from the university of Hawaii's department of urban and regional planning; and (8) A certified arborist from the university of Hawaii. (c) The chairpersons of the task force shall invite representatives to participate on the task force, and may invite other relevant stakeholders that shall include but not be limited to: (1) Community groups having a focus on reducing urban temperatures in public infrastructure; (2) Organizations having a focus on reducing wastewater in public infrastructure; (3) Organizations having a focus on beautifying the State; and (4) Organizations having experience in painting and finishing in public construction projects. (d) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2024 and 2025. (e) The task force shall dissolve on June 30, 2025. SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall take effect on June 30, 2052.
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that sustainable design concepts for public infrastructure incorporate green vegetation and trees to decrease urban temperatures, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and capture water to replenish the water table. The effects of climate change have made the implementation of sustainable design concepts more critical, as each passing year has seen increased temperatures and other impacts from climate change.
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51	51	The legislature also finds that studies have determined that people who live in areas that have more trees and green space are less likely to develop acute respiratory symptoms and die of heart disease or respiratory disease. Studies have also found that green vegetation, trees, and properly designed and well-maintained infrastructure can also produce significant improvements to mental health and have positive psychological and quality of life benefits in a community. For example, The Walt Disney Company uses these principles in park design, including painting of infrastructure such as trash cans and streetlights in a standard shade of neutral green to blend into the surrounding environment to improve the quality of experience for visitors. Similar practices can be done in local communities to produce mental health and quality of life benefits.
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53	53	The legislature further finds that Hawaii is world-renowned for its lush vegetation, and residents and tourists actively seek out green spaces. Increasing the number of parks and green spaces in Honolulu's urban core will increase the quality of life of residents and visitors.
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55	55	Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to improve the quality of life in the State by:
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57	57	(1) Establishing objectives and policies for transportation systems, infrastructure, and projects to incorporate green infrastructure; and
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59	59	(2) Establishing a green transportation infrastructure task force to examine, evaluate, and develop best practices for the department of transportation to further guide, design, implement, and maintain green transportation infrastructure in transportation systems and projects.
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61	61	SECTION 2. Chapter 264, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
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63	63	"§264- Green transportation infrastructure. (a) Planning for transportation systems, infrastructure, and projects shall incorporate green infrastructure to achieve the following climate and sustainability design objectives:
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65	65	(1) Minimizing stormwater runoff and replenishment of the water table;
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67	67	(2) Reducing the urban heat island effect by providing shade that reduces heat absorption over hardened surfaces;
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69	69	(3) Providing cooler shaded transit for pedestrians, bicycle users, and micro-mobility device users; and
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71	71	(4) Encouraging the removal, sequestration, and storage of pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.
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73	73	(b) Planning for transportation systems, infrastructure, and projects shall use green infrastructure to achieve life design objectives, including:
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75	75	(1) Creating a visual and sound barrier between vehicles and other modes of pedestrian, bicycle, and multi‑modal transit to enhance the quality of transportation;
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77	77	(2) Creating a visual and sound barrier between vehicles and surrounding communities to enhance quality of life;
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79	79	(3) Incorporating live foliage, trees, and green infrastructure, to the greatest extent possible, to blend transportation infrastructure into the State's natural environment and reflect a state sense of place;
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81	81	(4) Finishing non-travel exterior exposed appurtenances and hardened surfaces not covered in foliage or green infrastructure with a standardized paint scheme to protect against weathering, blend appropriately with the State's natural environment, and enhance a state sense of place; and
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83	83	(5) Requiring the department of transportation and its contractors to adopt uniform best practices when planting, caring for, and maintaining trees and green infrastructure by following ANSI A300 standards for tree care practices.
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85	85	(c) The director of transportation may grant exemptions to certain projects in instances in which safety is a concern or the director otherwise deems it necessary.
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87	87	(d) As used in this section, "green infrastructure" means the range of measures that use plant, tree, or soil systems having an expected life span of at least twenty years to reduce carbon footprints, enhance shade, reduce temperatures, reduce stormwater flow to sewer systems or surface waters, and satisfy the State's climate and sustainability goals."
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89	89	SECTION 3. Section 264-143, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
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91	91	"(a) When planning, designing, and implementing ground transportation infrastructure for each project pursuant to this part, the department shall endeavor to:
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93	93	(1) Assess and maximize total throughput of people across all modes of transportation;
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95	95	(2) Achieve any goals described in the complete streets policy adopted pursuant to section 264-20.5;
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97	97	(3) Reduce vehicle miles traveled;
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99	99	(4) Decrease the percentage of single occupancy vehicles in the State's mode share;
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101	101	(5) Provide equity for all communities and users;
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103	103	(6) Improve safety and achieve any goals described in the vision zero policy adopted pursuant to section 286‑7.5;
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105	105	(7) Reduce user cost of transportation;
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107	107	(8) Improve public health;
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109	109	(9) Reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses to meet state renewable portfolio standards established in section 269-92 and zero emissions clean economy by 2045 pursuant to section 225P-5;
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111	111	(10) Reduce [urban] temperatures and provide for cooler transit by incorporating green infrastructure [tree canopy and foliage over hardened surfaces;] pursuant to section 264- ; and
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113	113	(11) Beautify public infrastructure."
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115	115	SECTION 4. (a) There is established the green transportation infrastructure task force to be placed in the department of transportation for administrative purposes. The green transportation infrastructure task force shall examine, evaluate, and develop best practices to guide the design, implementation, and maintenance of green transportation infrastructure pursuant to section 264- , Hawaii Revised Statutes.
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117	117	(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
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119	119	(1) One member appointed by the president of the senate and one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall serve as co-chairpersons of the task force;
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121	121	(2) One representative from the department of transportation highways division;
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123	123	(3) One representative from the department of land and natural resources;
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125	125	(4) One representative from the climate change mitigation and adaptation commission;
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127	127	(5) One representative from the office of planning and sustainable development;
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129	129	(6) On representative from the Hawaii tourism authority;
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131	131	(7) One representative from the university of Hawaii's department of urban and regional planning; and
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133	133	(8) A certified arborist from the university of Hawaii.
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135	135	(c) The chairpersons of the task force shall invite representatives to participate on the task force, and may invite other relevant stakeholders that shall include but not be limited to:
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137	137	(1) Community groups having a focus on reducing urban temperatures in public infrastructure;
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139	139	(2) Organizations having a focus on reducing wastewater in public infrastructure;
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141	141	(3) Organizations having a focus on beautifying the State; and
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143	143	(4) Organizations having experience in painting and finishing in public construction projects.
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145	145	(d) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2024 and 2025.
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147	147	(e) The task force shall dissolve on June 30, 2025.
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149	149	SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
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151	151	SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that sections 2 and 3 of this Act shall take effect on June 30, 2052.
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153	153	Report Title: Green Infrastructure; Transportation; Green Transportation Infrastructure Task Force Description: Establishes green infrastructure objectives and policies for transportation systems, infrastructure, and projects. Establishes the green transportation infrastructure task force to examine, evaluate, and develop policies for the design, implementation, and maintenance of green transportation infrastructure. Effective 7/1/2050 and 6/30/2052. (SD2) The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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159	159	Report Title:
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161	161	Green Infrastructure; Transportation; Green Transportation Infrastructure Task Force
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165	165	Description:
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167	167	Establishes green infrastructure objectives and policies for transportation systems, infrastructure, and projects. Establishes the green transportation infrastructure task force to examine, evaluate, and develop policies for the design, implementation, and maintenance of green transportation infrastructure. Effective 7/1/2050 and 6/30/2052. (SD2)
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175	175	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.