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73 Ms. Soon stated that the most common recommendation they hear is the need for a <br />74 smartphone transit app. Another popular recommendation is for electronic bus schedule signs <br />75 at each bus stop. <br />76 Right now there are three types of bus routes: Connector Routes (traveling between two <br />77 communities), Circulator Routes (stays within a community), and Commuter Routes(traveling <br />78 between Hilo and Kona). The Masterplan is introducing three additional new route types: Hub <br />79 and Spoke (picked up on a circulator route, deposited at a hub, with the option to transfer to a <br />80 longer route if needed), Flex Service (the ability for buses to deviate 3/ miles off of the main <br />81 route if requests are made 24 hours ahead of time), and Zone Service (similar to a Circulator <br />82 Route but only operates on specific days). The proposed hubs would be in Kona, Pahoa, and <br />83 Waimea. <br />84 The new Saddle Road improvements have made it possible for the Masterplan to consider it as <br />85 a transit route. <br />86 Ms. Soon informed the Action Committee that they are hoping to have a draft masterplan <br />87 ready by the first quarter of 2018. <br />88 The following questions were asked and answered following the presentation: <br />89 Q: Was there any feedback specifically from Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP)? <br />90 A: No. [Ms. Soon will reach out to the HPP Owners Association] <br />91 Q: Are options for funding sources being included in your finance strategy? <br />92 A: The masterplan will be displaying typical sources used by transit systems. <br />93 Q: Is it feasible for the masterplan to be adopted by ordinance? <br />94 A: The masterplan is too dynamic to be tethered to an ordinance. [Ms. Soon does not <br />95 recommended adoption by ordinance]. <br />96 Q: How long do busses from O'ahu last here on the Big Island? <br />97 A: The busses that Mass Transit currently has from O'ahu are 22 years old. <br />98 Q: Are there any private figures/companies that Mass Transit works with? <br />99 A: All of the bus drivers and some of the busses are on private contract. <br />100 Q: Is there currently a bus route that aligns with our public school systems? <br />101 A: Yes, there are routes running at the start and finish of the school day. <br />102 Q: Are student discounts offered? <br />103 A: Yes. <br />104 Q: Are there any employer sponsored bus passes? <br />105 A: Resort employees can have bus passes automatically deducted from their payroll, but it is <br />106 unknown if there are any employer subsidized bus passes. <br />107 Q: Has converting the busses to electric power or green energy been considered? <br />108 A: Yes it has been considered but it is twice as expensive for a green energy bus as it is for a <br />109 biodiesel bus. <br />110 The presentation slides from the Mass Transit Master Plan Presentation can be found here: <br />111 http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/webIink/DocView.aspx?dbid=1&id=90177&page=1 <br />www.hiplanningdept.com puna ahawadcounty.gov Page 3 <br />