HR 51

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.R. NO.
51
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE RESOLUTION
URGING THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OF THE CITY AND
COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO UTILIZE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO MITIGATE TRAFFIC AND
IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY IN THE STATE.
���� WHEREAS,
Hawaii reported a total of one hundred twenty-nine traffic fatalities in 2025
equating to a twenty percent increase from the previous year; and
���� WHEREAS, this
alarming figure represents the deadliest year in the State since 2007; and
���� WHEREAS, it
was reported that eighty-two traffic deaths occurred on the island of Oahu
alone; and
���� WHEREAS,
Hawaii ranks in the top twenty most congested states in the nation; and
���� WHEREAS,
according to the 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard created by INRIX, the average
American driver loses forty-nine hours in traffic congestion annually, which is
a six hour increase from the previous year's report; and
���� WHEREAS,
according to INRIX's report, those hours lost sitting in traffic amount to
nearly $894 annually per driver that could otherwise be productive, including
leisure time that has been wasted behind the wheel; and
���� WHEREAS,
states should continuously seek to upgrade hardware platforms that can better
support traffic systems, including venturing into the use of artificial
intelligence (AI); and
���� WHEREAS, AI
traffic management systems are developed to integrate with current traffic
systems to modernize operations; and
���� WHEREAS, an
AI-powered traffic system uses real-time data to optimize timing, reduce
congestion, and improve road safety; and
���� WHEREAS,
other states such as California, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania are
leveraging the use of AI to improve road safety and traffic management; and
���� WHEREAS, the
University of Hawaii at Manoa earned a $750,000 award from the United States
Department of Transportation for the development of an advanced AI system to
determine traffic patterns; and
���� WHEREAS,
implementing these new technologies in the State is feasible and can yield
successful outcomes; now, therefore,
���� BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Transportation
and Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu
are urged to consider implementing new and innovative artificial intelligence
technologies into its current infrastructure to mitigate traffic and increase
road safety; and
���� BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation and Department of Transportation
Services of the City and County of Honolulu are requested to submit a report on
the use of existing traffic technologies in other jurisdictions and assess the
feasibility of integrating artificial intelligence technologies into the
existing traffic technology infrastructure to the Legislature no later than
twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and
���� BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Director of Transportation and Director of the Department of Transportation
Services of the City and County of Honolulu.
Report Title:�
Traffic
Mitigation; Safety; Artificial Intelligence; DOT; DTS