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<br /> <br /> <br /> The agency is working with IT to develop an online bus schedule and system <br />maps the public can download. <br /> <br />Ms. Kierkiewicz reported Mass Transit has never cancelled service in Mass <br />Transit history and never downsized their operations. Mass Transit has a contract with <br />Roberts Hawai‘i to hire the drivers and that reduces the cost of liability on the County’s <br />end. <br /> <br /> Mr. Espejo asked why the Hele On bus did not go to the airport. Ms. Kierkiewicz <br />replied the routes are based on community needs; the community does not need to go <br />to the airport, it is mostly the tourists and a lot of them rent vehicles. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mitchell wanted to clarify that bus fares were free up until 2005. Ms. <br />Kierkiewicz confirmed and stated from 2005 to 2011 it was $1.00 and in 2011 it was <br />raised to $2.00. <br /> <br /> Ms. Maddox stated the intra-Waimea bus is now $1.00; it was free until a year <br />ago. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mitchell said speaking specifically to represent the West side, more buses <br />run on the Hilo side for good reasons, yet there is an issue with regards to the West <br />side paying a healthy share of the tax burden. He said the people on the West side feel <br />like they have been subsidizing services on the East side. <br /> <br />Ms. Kierkiewicz said there was a point in time when the East side was <br />subsidizing what was happening on the West side. She personally does not think there <br />should be an East versus West mentality, this is Hawai‘i island and everyone here on <br />this island should be taken cared of. <br /> <br />Ms. Maddox knows that people were upset when the bus fares went up and that <br />there was a notion the County should be providing the bus service. <br /> <br /> Ms. Kelly asked if there was a reduced fare for seniors or students. Ms. <br />Kierkiewicz believes there is. <br /> <br /> Ms. Kelly asked where she would go if she wanted to see a map of the bus <br />services. Ms. Kierkiewicz replied: www.heleonbus.org. Ms. Kelly asked if the website <br />would have all the maps that service the island, the hours and schedule and the bus <br />number. Ms. Kierkiewicz replied yes, it is a huge document that can be downloaded. <br />She said Mass Transit is trying to simplify the website and make it more user friendly if <br />using a mobile device. <br /> <br /> Mr. Espejo stated when the bus system started, Mass Transit wanted to increase <br />their ridership to get cars off the road. Tom Brown, the administrator then, got federal <br />funds, which is how they got funded and ridership increased. Once the monies dried <br />up, they had to start charging. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mitchell said he thinks it is worth it for the Commission to look at the report <br />the University of Michigan and Kohala Center collaborated on because it takes a close <br /> <br />24 <br /> <br /> <br />