RES 623 Draft 01 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. 623 0~ A RESOLUTION TO EXPAND PUBLIC BUS SERVICE IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII. WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council acknowledges that County government should take the lead in the effort to reduce the County's dependence on fossil fuels and other imported resources for electrical energy and transportation; and WHEREAS, bus transit benefits all Hawaii Island residents by reducing energy use and pollution, easing traffic congestion, and making roads safer by allowing tired drivers to ride the bus rather than drive; and WHEREAS, the free, island-wide bus service recently implemented by the County mass transit agency has had dramatic and positive effects on the quality and convenience of the County's public transportation system; and WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii County Energy Sustainability Plan, bus ridership in the county has increased 25-40% each year since the mass transit agency implemented the free bus policy in October 2005; and WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii County Energy Sustainability Plan, County buses are operating at 85-98% of capacity on the majority of their runs; and WHEREAS, expanded bus ridership results in significant cost savings to the county because buses use less fuel per passenger mile than private vehicles and the county typically pays less for a gallon of diesel than consumers pay for a gallon of gasoline, as the county is exempt from taxation on its fuel purchases; and WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii County Energy Sustainability Plan, the County mass transit agency should expand public bus service on Hawaii Island with the goal of increasing the number of passenger trips by 20% per year until 2015; and WHEREAS, an expanded public bus service provides an important service to County residents, makes the County's roads safer, reduces pollution, and reduces oil imports; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that, starting immediately, the county implement measures to expand public bus service on Hawaii Island and commit necessary funds to ensure that such expansion occurs.