Torres signs bill for new Tinian public highway

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has approved a measure to establish a new public highway on Tinian, which will be known as Route 205.

Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian) penned Senate Bill 19-22; it is now known as Public Law 19-85.

The Senate Committee on Resources, Economic Development, and Programs—headed by then Senate vice president Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan)—recommended the passage of SB 19-22 on June 2; the Senate passed it the following day. The House passed it on Dec. 28.

The law’s purpose is to provide greater access for economic development in the eastern and southern parts of the island.

Aside from establishing a new Tinian public highway, the new law mandates the designation of public lands for the new highway including access to fishing and hunting areas, with the Department of Public Safety acting as enforcement and emergency response agency.

The priority now is the construction design within the Capital Improvement Project office and Department of Public Works federal highway funds program.

The U.S. military leases two-thirds of Tinian, particularly the island’s northern to the central part, making the land limited.

Tinian currently has one major highway, Broadway, in the middle of the island. It stretches from the military area in the north to the San Jose village.

Despite land being scarce, homestead and agricultural developments were still established on the island’s east and south side.

The lack of a public highway and available land limits economic development in San Jose, neglecting Tinian’s eastern and southern parts. Access to other parts of the island have also been difficult and dangerous to other cars since existing roads are small and unpaved.

“The Legislature finds that a new public highway must be built to provide a safe and efficient transportation from Route 200 south down to Puntan Carolinas and up through Puntan Kastiyu and Puntan Pina Plateuas and further up to Puntan Barangka to Punta Masalog and Puntan Asiga until the high way connects to Broadway on Tinian’s northern part,” wrote Hofschneider in PL 19-85.

Route 205 will connect with other highways while also promoting the establishment of new homestead subdivisions and economic opportunities on the island that includes the eastern and southern parts. The highway must not be less than 200 feet from the cliff line.

The Department of Public Lands would designate available public lands for the design and construction of Route 205, which would include access to areas for fishing and hunting.