Bill > SR50

This Resolution requests the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a task force to study the feasibility of creating alternative emergency access routes for the communities between Hanalei and Haena. This action is prompted by the increasing frequency of severe storms and natural disasters, such as flooding and landslides, which have previously cut off these communities for extended periods, isolating residents, disrupting essential services like healthcare and schooling, and hindering the flow of goods. The study will explore potential routes, including a former road now used for utility lines and a path over land managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The DOT is also directed to involve various stakeholders, including local community groups, the County of Kauai, utility providers, and federal agencies, in this process and to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2023.