Gov. Linda Lingle recently signed a bill that sets up a working group to develop a transportation access plan for West Maui.

The bill, H.B. 2531, was one of the 52 bills the governor considered vetoing due to budget considerations.

Instead of nixing the bill entirely, Lingle did a line-item veto of $50,000 that was appropriated in the bill to hire a consultant. The governor is encouraging a task force to seek alternative sources of funding from the private sector, federal and county agencies and community organizations, a news release said.

The bill, now Act 214, creates a working group to facilitate dialogue among residents, transportation officials and other government, community and business representatives to develop a contingency plan identifying alternatives to accessing West Maui when Honoapi'ilani Highway is closed due to brush fires and other emergencies.