2015-12 MTSC report-minutes 24Feb15

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Communication No. 2015 -12 Hub and spoke — several scenarios were discussed regarding the lower Puna area and how to help the long rides for the residents of Nanwale. Greggor has ridden all the lower Puna routes and he gave his input. June said that there needs to be better service to both areas, but upper Puna seems to get ignored. Fern Acres and Hawaiian Acres were discussed and June said she is not familiar with that area but would check to see how service could be improved along Hwy 11. The subcommittee has members from that area so they could assist with some hub and spoke options. Tiffany said she had been requested to add earlier service to the Red Road area and asked if the subcommittee could get more information as to the need for that. June will check with the PCDP members who live in that area to determine who to contact. MTA and the DOE — Greggor bought this issue to the table and said he wanted to know more about the relationship between the Dept of Education and the use of public buses for students. June questioned how public buses can serve only as a school bus, such as the one which leaves the mall at 7:15 each morning and goes to the Kea'au Hawaiian school. There is also a special bus in the afternoon to return the students to the mall. Greggor will study this issue more. The subcommittee agreed that June should send an email to Tiffany to state what was understood at the meeting and to also express considerations to address with the Hilo airport route. Hannah also requested that we remind Tiffany of past communications regarding transit service that have never been answered. In particular the July 15, 2010 memo stated that a $350,000 grant was received to further hub and spoke. Whatever happened to those funds? Danny is the chair for the Hawai'i County Council Mass Transit Committee and he lives in Puna. Greggor, from his experience riding the bus routes understands many of the issues. Both of them want to work together to assist our subcommittee as well as to improve the transit service. June feels that with these 2 councilmen working with us we have a more positive outlook toward progress. The next committee meeting will be Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 3:30 pm. Respectfully submitted, June Conant