Bill
SCR 177
Urges Honolulu to adopt a pedestrian-first policy via ordinance, guiding street design and funding to prioritize walking and safety.
Title: STRONGLY URGING THE HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT A "PEDESTRIAN FIRST" POLICY VIA ORDINANCE
Bill Type and Status
- Classification: Concurrent resolution
- Introduced: March 7, 2025
- Legislative Action: Referred to EIG on March 12, 2025
- Related Companions: HCR 112 (companion in House) and SR 147 (companion in Senate)
Purpose and Intent
- The bill expresses a formal, non-binding urging from the Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives to the Honolulu City Council to adopt a formal “pedestrian first” policy through an ordinance.
- The policy would place pedestrians as the highest priority in street design, planning, and related decisions, and would guide trade-offs between travel modes (e.g., walking, driving, transit).
Key Provisions
- Policy Urge: Strongly urges the Honolulu City Council to adopt a pedestrian-first policy via ordinance.
- Decision-M-making Principle: The policy would inform and guide city decision-making when considering modal trade-offs (e.g., how streets are designed, funded, and managed).
- Reference Framework: Relies on the City’s own Oahu Pedestrian Plan (finalized July 2022) and the concept of the Pedestrian Priority Network.
- Oahu Pedestrian Plan: A long-term action plan aimed at safer, more accessible streets to support walking as a primary mode of self-transport.
- Pedestrian Priority Network: The network of streets and off-street paths that connect pedestrians to transit, schools, employment, retail, and other major destinations.
- Rationale: Highlights safety data showing that high-risk pedestrian areas comprise only about 2% of streets but account for roughly 60% of fatalities and 42% of injuries, underscoring the need for targeted infrastructure improvements.
Who Is Affected
- Primary: City and County of Honolulu, specifically the Honolulu City Council, Mayor, Managing Director, and the Department of Transportation Services (DTS).
- Broader Impact: If adopted, the policy would influence how the city prioritizes pedestrian infrastructure and safety in planning, design, budgeting, and project selection.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Status: Referred to the EIG committee (likely encompassing energy, infrastructure, and transportation policy areas) for consideration.
- Action Path: A concurrent resolution, if adopted, would urge the city council to draft and pass an ordinance reflecting a pedestrian-first framework.
- Transmittal: If enacted, certified copies would be sent to the Mayor, Managing Director, all Honolulu City Council members, and the DTS Director.
Relationship to Related Bills
- Companion resolutions exist: HCR 112 and SR 147, which mirror SCR 177’s urging in their respective chambers.
Potential Impact and Considerations
- Policy Impact: As a non-binding resolution, SCR 177 does not create new law but signals strong legislative support for pedestrian-first governance in Honolulu.
- Implementation Path: Success depends on Honolulu City Council adopting and enacting an ordinance detailing the policy, its scope, and implementation milestones.
- Safety and Equity Focus: By aligning with the Oahu Pedestrian Plan and the Pedestrian Priority Network, the measure emphasizes targeted safety improvements in high-risk areas.
In short, SCR 177 seeks state-level endorsement urging Honolulu to codify a pedestrian-first approach through local ordinance, leveraging existing planning frameworks to improve pedestrian safety and street experience citywide.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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