GOVERNOR LINGLE SIGNS WEST MAUI TRANSPORTATION ACCESS PLAN BILL
Legislation Had Been Considered For Potential Veto
For Immediate Release: July 7, 2008
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle today signed a bill to set up a working group to develop a transportation access plan for West Maui. The bill, HB2531HD1 SD2 CD1, was one of the 52 bills being considered by the Governor for potential vetoes. It is among a handful of bills that the Governor said contained good measures but were on the potential veto list due to the fiscal impact the programs would have on the State’s budget.
As such, the Governor has line-item vetoed $50,000 that was appropriated in the bill to hire a consultant because the funds were not included in the State’s six-year balanced financial plan. The Governor also pointed out that the funds would have been used to hire a consultant without complying with open and fair procedures required under the State Procurement Code. The task force is being encouraged to seek alternative sources of funding from the private sector, federal and county agencies and community organizations.
The bill, which becomes Act 214, will create a working group to facilitate dialogue among residents, transportation officials, state and county civil defense agencies, other government offices, and community, business and industry representatives to develop a contingency plan to identify alternatives to accessing West Maui when Honoapi‘ilani Highway closes due to an emergency, such as the Olowalu fire last year. The process will also be used as a model for developing access plans for other areas in the state.
“Developing alternative access routes to and from West Maui, especially during times of emergency, has been an ongoing concern,” said Governor Lingle. “The working group created under this new law will bring the public, private and community sectors together to collaborate on viable alternatives for moving people and supplies safely and efficiently to and from West Maui in the event of the prolonged closure of Honoapi‘ilani Highway.”
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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708
Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043
