Revised Text of HB 2667 - From a State Authority to a Study That's Already Been Done, Twice Before

Interesting that to save face Souki wanted to turn this into a study that's already been done. Enterprise Honolulu did a study on the ferry for the Legislature in 2004 and Market Scope Inc. also did a similarly applicable study for the PUC. Interesting, both of them have been taken down from the Internet since the entity went bankrupt, but people still have the .pdf copies of both.

Now, when there's not enough money for kids here to have 5 days of school a week, we're contemplating spending more money on a study that has already been done, not once, but twice before? Here's the most recent version of Souki's face saving bill. Souki, by the way, says it's gonna "sail" through the Finance Committee...it's next stop. We'll see about that:

From: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/lists/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2667

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2667
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FERRIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The State of Hawaii is made up of a chain of islands, six of which have major population centers. Unlike other states, Hawaii does not have the benefit of being linked to other states through the federal interstate highway system or a network of intersecting state and local highways and roads.

With the exception of slow, time-consuming interisland shipping and barge operations for the transportation of property between the islands, the only link between the islands for the transportation of persons is air transportation, with our present reliance on two interisland carriers and a few smaller commuter operations. However, this reliance on air transportation may be misplaced. With the exception of the island of Hawaii, each of the neighbor islands is served by only one airport, and each may be subjected to severe operational interruption in the event of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or earthquake. Even the Hickam Air Force Base-Honolulu international airport complex, with its location along the shoreline on Oahu may be operationally shut down by a natural disaster. By way of example, had the airport at Lihue been shut down operationally in the aftermath of Hurricane Iniki, it would have taken days, if not weeks, before any major aid and relief in the form of water, food, medical supplies, and rescue workers could have reached the island. Hawaii is too reliant on its present slow water carriers and air carriers in the event of a major natural disaster.

While the Hawaii superferry operation had its shortcomings, rocky start, and questionable financial forecast, it proved to be a very successful mode of transportation of both persons and property between the islands of Maui and Oahu. It was the missing link in the transportation system between the islands that is so essential for the health, safety, and well-being of the people of Hawaii.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a statewide ferry system to provide the necessary and essential additional missing link for the carriage of persons and property between the islands of the State.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of transportation shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a statewide ferry system and a Hawaii state ferry system authority as the primary agency for oversight and regulation of the statewide ferry system.

(b) The department shall study various types of ferry systems, including passenger-only and passenger, automobile, and cargo ferry systems, that the department determines are suitable for operations within Hawaiian waters, taking into account such parameters as vessel design and speed, passenger capacity, cargo capacity, automobile capacity, availability of smaller vessels for transportation between the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, and compatibility with harbor infrastructure. The study shall also include:

(1) An analysis of potential costs and revenue of a statewide ferry system, as well as economic, social, and physical or other effects upon residents of and visitors to Hawaii;

(2) Any impact a statewide ferry system would have on the state and the counties;

(3) Information on the financing of a statewide ferry system, including the establishment of rates, fees, rents, charges, or any other payments or costs associated with a statewide ferry system;

(4) Information on the development of a special fund for the financial self-sustainability of the statewide ferry system; and

(5) Information on the impact a statewide ferry system would have on the other water carriers in the state.

(c) The study shall also include the following information on the development of a Hawaii state ferry system authority:

(1) The composition of the authority;

(2) The rights, duties, powers, and obligations of the authority in developing, coordinating, and implementing state policies and direction for the safe transportation of persons and property between the Hawaiian islands; and

(3) The ability of the authority to eliminate or reduce barriers to travel between the Hawaiian islands and provide a positive and competitive business environment.

(d) The department shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any necessary legislation, to the legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2011 regular session.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.

Report Title:

Transportation; Ferry System Study

Description:

Requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing a statewide ferry system and the Hawaii State Ferry System Authority for the operation of a ferry system between the islands. (HB2667 HD1)