Kalapa Pedestrian Safety Commentary: A Serious Failure to Accurately Present the Facts
By Hawaii State Senator Rosalyn Baker
In his commentary dated August 2, 2007 (”Public finance: Legislature afflicted by a serious lack of understanding”), Lowell Kalapa acknowledges that, “no doubt,” pedestrian safety measures called for in Senate Bill 1191, including recalibrating stop lights to allow more time for pedestrians to cross the streets and raising awareness about safety measures, are meritorious. Unfortunately, the rest of his commentary contains a number of glaring factual errors and omissions.
For example, Kalapa questions the relationship between raising pedestrian awareness and the fees and taxes paid by drivers. Still, it is beyond question that some claims against the State are paid for out of the State Highway Fund. For example, as requested by the Attorney General in this session’s House Bill 1231, which addressed claims against the State, the State paid out of the State Highway Fund a $135,000 settlement to the family of a 17 year old pedestrian who was killed when she was struck by a vehicle while walking in an unlighted area on Kaukonahua Road in Waialua. Improved pedestrian safety measures could have saved the State that money, because—more importantly—they could have helped save the life of that young woman.
Kalapa goes on to claim that none of the major resources of the state highway fund have been increased in the last 15 years. The facts tell a different story.
In the recent legislative session, the Legislature passed HB 1757 which, in addition to exempting the sale of ethanol gasoline from the general excise tax, increased the fuel tax by one cent per gallon. That extra penny will inject about $9.2 million annually into the State Highway Fund.
Also this year, we passed SB 1133, which extends the sunset date of the temporary one dollar surcharge for rental motor vehicles for an additional year, to August 31, 2008. That extra dollar generates about $14 million annually for the State Highway Fund. SB 1133 also establishes a joint Senate and House of Representatives task force to conduct a review of the State Highway Fund.
Kalapa’s claim that the state highway fund’s balance will fall to just under $5 million by the year 2013 ignores the impact of these new funding measures. We recognized the projected decline in the highway fund, and responded with an effective answer. Accounting for HB 1757 and SB 1133, the ending balance in the State Highway Fund will be approximately $74.4 million in fiscal year 2013.
Kalapa ended his commentary by saying that “lawmakers should pay attention as to how the [pedestrian safety] project is financed.” We did, and the facts prove it. The Senate and the House also paid attention to the needs of the State Highway Fund and passed measures adding $23.2 million in FY 2008 and $9.2 million annually thereafter.
Mr. Kalapa needs to acknowledge the true facts surrounding the funding of these vital, life-saving measures, just as he acknowledged their merit. Only by moving beyond the political misdirection and posturing can we get on with the important task at hand: protecting the lives of our pedestrians.
State Senator Rosalyn Baker (D) represents the 5th Senatorial District on the Island of Maui and serves as the Ways and Means Committee Chairperson.