COM 0150.020 2012-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Honorable J Yoshimoto And Members of the Hawai`i County Council Page 4 May 2,2013 Transit Improvements Our expanding public transit system provided a record 1.2 million rides island-wide last year. However, as more passengers ride, they require more service, which increases driver, maintenance and other costs. Our transit system has outgrown its existing staff. Our Hele-On Bus system now has a fleet of 55 buses, and our transit system serves increasing numbers of riders in an area much larger than any other county. Our system now requires additional investment. This budget fortifies our Mass Transit Agency by adding$143,244 to fund an additional mechanic, a mechanic helper, and two clerks. This budget also increases funding for fuel and lubricants, and adds $122,170 to support a new Waikoloa shuttle route. Our proposed staff additions will help address a backlog of vehicle maintenance that will make more vehicles available to enhance service, and will help the Mass Transit Agency keep pace with the ever-growing demands of increased ridership. These changes will allow us to continue to expand our Hele-On Bus service, including the new shuttle route to Waikoloa and the recently added service to Hawaiian Paradise Park. We are proposing a bus fare increase from the current $1 per ride to $2 per ride for most passengers to raise an additional $637,500 in the year ahead. Fares for senior citizens, the disabled and students will be$1 per ride, and children under the age of 5 will continue to ride free. This continues to be an excellent value for our riders, since our projections show that our bus service will cost the county an average of more than $6.50 per ride in the year ahead. At a time when gasoline prices are at near-record levels, our Hele-On system continues to provide one of the most affordable transportation options in the state. We believe it is fair and appropriate to ask our Hele-On riders to contribute as we expand and improve their service. Enhancing Information Technology Information technology has the power to transform the way residents interact with their county government, allowing more people to access more services online such as bill paying, permitting, and reservations for licensing and other services. Our residents expect and demand that their government keep pace with the times by investing in information technology that makes it easier and more efficient for our citizens to do business with our county. Building these systems requires a robust, resilient infrastructure, but our county's current information technology network is underpowered and overextended. Our IT infrastructure is in need of immediate investment. This budget includes $300,000 for critically needed new network equipment. The current design of the county's network leaves it vulnerable to failure if just one or two pieces of legacy equipment fail. A redesigned network using modern equipment will increase the capacity, reliability, and speed of the network, which carries data ranging from everyday email to telephone calls to video conferencing in times of disaster. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.