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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee <br /> P.O. Box 383375 <br /> Waikoloa, HI 96738 <br /> <br /> May 19, 2009 <br /> RE: TESTIMONY at the November 4, 2009 Hawaii County Council Meeting <br /> <br /> Dear Council; <br /> <br /> I am Michael Price and reside at 68-1794 Auhili Loop in Waikoloa Village, HI <br /> 96738. 1 am representing South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee. South Kohala <br /> Traffic Safety Committee supports extending and expansion of the Kokua Zone <br /> Bus Program island wide. This free bus service enhances traffic safety <br /> throughout the County. We request your action to extend this program. <br /> This Program will save lives and reduce the number traffic accidents in the <br /> County. Many of the roads in Hawaii County are in fair to poor deteriorated <br /> surface condition, most are 2 lane with opposing streams of traffic, the risk of <br /> head on collisions is high. Vehicle operators need to be attentive and alert to <br /> avoid accidents and injury. Many commuting workers living in East Hawaii <br /> commuting to West Hawaii work places relying on the bus service as safe <br /> transportation. Many start the day at 3:30 AM to travel across the island to start <br /> work at 7:00 AM. Then after their shift ends, they travel back home arriving at <br /> 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Operator fatigue is a documented cause of vehicle operator <br /> error resulting in death or injury accidents. With the historic high cost of <br /> transportation and low wages the free bus service improves take-home income, <br /> takes fatigued drivers off the road and reduces the number of vehicles <br /> commuting daily. Bus loads of 80 people cause less wear and tear to the road, <br /> traffic congestion and potential injury accidents than 40+ separate vehicles. <br /> Opponents of free busing need to consider the additional cost to the County in <br /> road maintenance costs, emergency response costs associated with traffic <br /> accidents and the cost of setting up a paid ride system. The cost of bonding <br /> drivers, installing cash collection equipment, hiring accounting staff to handle <br /> cash will drive the cost of ridership to the point of not being affordable to <br /> commuters, students and older fixed income riders. The alternative is to drive <br /> separate vehicles. Even people who never ride the bus save money as a <br /> taxpayer for road maintenance, emergency response and traffic law <br /> enforcement; have a safer driving experience on less congested roads and <br /> improve the lives of their neighbors by supporting the free bus service. <br /> We feel that continued funding of the free bus service program is by far less <br /> expensive than attempting to implement a paid program. Reducing the number <br /> of injuries and deaths on our roads, providing safe transportation and improving <br /> the quality of life for everyone is a major benefit of the free bus service. Thank <br />