To provide a safe,
efficient, accessible, and inter-modal
transportation system that ensures the mobility
of people and goods, and enhances and/or
preserves economic prosperity and the quality of
life.
back
to top
Department of
Transportation is responsible to plan, design,
construct, operate, and maintain State
facilities in all modes of transportation,
including air, water, and land. Coordination with other State, County, and
Federal programs is maintained in order to
achieve the objective. The
Department currently provides, operates, and
maintains eleven (11) commercial service
airports, four (4) general aviation airports;
nine (9) commercial harbors; and two thousand
four hundred fifty (2,450) lane miles of
highway.
Four of the five major airports now serve
domestic overseas carriers.
back to top
The
Department of Transportation was formed shortly
after Hawaii became a state in 1959. It has
three divisions, Airports, Harbors and Highways,
which are supported by 10 departmental staff
offices.
The offices are: Statewide Transportation
Planning, Special Compliances, Public Affairs,
Visitor Information, PPB Management and
Analytical, Personnel, Business Management,
Contracts, Computer Systems and Services, and
Property Management.
The DOT is
composed of four principle sub-programs: Air
Transportation Facilities and Services, Water
Transportation Facilities and Services, Land
Transportation Facilities and Services, and
Overall Program Support for Transportation
Facilities and Services. A total of 35 individual, lower-level
programs and their associated plans are included
in the Multi-Year Program and Financial Plan for
the period 1999-2005.
The three divisions of
DOT; Airports, Harbors and Highways, work with
their Federal counterparts; Federal Aviation
Administration, U.S. Coast Guard and Federal
Highways Administration, in order to keep Hawaii
coordinated with overall U.S. standards. Closer
to home, since county transportation systems
must complement the State system, the counties'
Planning Commission and Department of Public
Works assist in determining the needs and
priorities of transportation facilities. In
addition, City and County of Honolulu performs
maintenance activities on all traffic lights on
Oahu and provides an abandoned vehicle removal
service from State highways on the island of
Oahu.
back to top
The DOT is required
by law to generate its own monies to fund its
programs and projects. Independent special funds
were established for each of the three
division’s major programs.
Each fund is
expected to generate enough revenue to pay for
the program operation and maintenance costs and
to contribute a fee to the State General Fund
for central services. This fee is set at five
percent of each special fund’s gross revenues
after debt service.
These special funds
must also provide a higher level of cash
financing in the Capital Improvement Program to
ease the burden on debt service.
Since the Capital
Improvement Program is large, the DOT continues
to rely on reimbursable General Obligation Bonds
and federal aid (largely through the U.S.
Department of Transportation) to help fund
programs and projects.
Airport
Special Revenue Fund
The
Airport Revenue Fund was created under Section
261-5, HRS. Its primary revenue sources are the
aviation fuel tax, landing fees, airport use
charges, concession fees, and investment income.
Other revenue sources include rentals and
miscellaneous earnings.
Harbor Special
Revenue Fund
The Harbor Special Fund was established
under Section 266-19, HRS. The
majority of the fund’s revenues come from fees
and charges for profiles, dockage, demurrage,
and the rental of land and wharf space at the
state’s commercial harbors. The remaining amount
is generated from various service charges,
permits and licenses.
Highway Special Revenue
Fund
The
State Highway Fund was established under Section
248-8 HRS, as amended. The
principal sources of revenue are taxes or fees
relating to liquid fuel, vehicle registration,
motor vehicle weight, rental motor vehicle
surcharge, tour vehicle surcharge and periodic
motor vehicle inspections (safety).
