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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0184.024 1996-1998 THE KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE --'gY°----------• NEXT MEETING: ~'-"""°-"•j~_, County Council -"'f• DATE: Monday, March 17, 1997 TIME: 8:30 - 11:30 a. m. LOCATION: Human Services Conference Room Haleki'1 St., Kealakekua (near the Korner Pocket) AGENDA: 13:30 - 8:45 a. m. Introductions 8:45 - 10:00 a. m. State of Hawaii Transportation Meeting - U.S. Gov't Funding for Public Transportation Report 8 video. fduestions & Uiscussion re. Funding sources for Transportation. 1(4:0(4 - 10:30 a. m. Update of kFP (Request for Proposal) - Tom brown, Mass 'T'ransit Agency reports on funding & advertising. All papers and information needed to apply will be given to interested parties at this time. Deadlines to be announced. Wuestions 8 Answers. 1~d:30 - 11:00 a. m. Uommunity Mapping - Where do we put our efforts? How can we be most effective? Uiscussion. 11:00 - 11:30 a. m. Pre-planning Steps for the }•'uture - Developing the VISION of an EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 1•'OR HAWAII! Set dates & times for C:arrie's "Visioning Exercise" designed for unifying all components and "key players" into ONE UUORUINATED PLAN! NEXT MEETING: Uate: 't'ime: Location: lduestions & Information Uontact: Maihaa K. Rayne Uoordinator & Nublicity Kona 't'ransportation 'lask Force 76-133 koyal Poinciana Drive ~~1~ Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 967~0~ DTa_._ \ VS~ (608 ) 329-6533 T`"~ iGo.__-. i~.:-f. : Presented- "OI~IL~I I(~t. Trace MAR 1 7 1997..,. KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE - SUMMARY OF MEETING Wednesday, Jan. 22, 1997, 8:30-10:00 a. m. - Introductions - Maihaa K. Rayne, KTTF Coordinator 8 Publicity Present: Henry Cho, Mayor's Office (W. Hawaii); Tom Brown, MTA; Dana Eudaley,DD Council; 8 Merle Martin, CIL West Hawaii; Joanne Perry, CDOH-CSDDB; Janis Carmen, & Norman Mataubara, Kona Krafts. AGENDA - Sharing 1. Request for RFP for Coordinated Public Transportation Ylan - About 2 yrs. ago, County money matched by Fed. funds to develop master transportation plan. '1'o assist in the development of a Coordinated "Transportation System, we want to see the County Plan for the Mass Transit & the HE:LEUN County Bus System for Operations, as well as the complete budget & allocation of funds for Public Transportation for Hawaii. Current Routes, schedules, ridership figures for all runs 8 stops (totals of on/off passenger counts dally) over the three month period of Oct.-Dec. 1996. Currently 60 - B0 vans on island. State Health Planning & Development Agency has list of where they are. Tom Brown supports blend of "Commuter" & "Fixed route" bus system. Was "request for RFP" published in Hawa11 local newspapers? 'l'om Brown said RFP was mailed out to transportation companies on the mainland, if advertised - which publication(s)? dates?. Current allocation of funds insufficient. Tom Brown is applying to State DUT for k7"AP - kural Transportation 5 to add to original grant. Estimated 535,000 - 545,000 needed for development of RFP. Tom Brown will re-advertise for RFP bids Feb. 1997. Open to on- island bids. WE WANT A WORkING PLAN! We desire the best plan up to the full amount allocated. County must tell the total amount. 2. Comm. requires all contract language & procurement requirements. All info. relating to RFP available at next meeting - County Purchasing kules, documents & requirements contractor has to abide by, plus SHPDA - State Health Planning & Development Agency - report on vehicles and resources on island. II. EVALUATION OF "TRIAL BUS RUN": Test Bus Run & Advertising Listing/Sharing Group WHAT WORKED.... WHAT DIDN'T.... Identified ridership usage/needs Rack cards inaccurate from day 1 Developed improved schedule Showed 2 routes & few times 3-fold brochure cost-effective Initial schedule times way off Businesses volunteered support Bus routes uncertain/changed Videos effective public educ. Riders didn't know where to catch llrivers provided high level bus & when - No fixed stops/times of customer service - cared. Hiders unfamiliar with"flag down" Fixed stops along route helped Especially visitors from anywhere Riders must know routes & times People expect marked bus stops Times accurate after 2nd month Route changed due to construction Map of route with stops helped Damage to buses from construction Increasing cooperation with all Initial bus times failed to meet Riders were able (by 3rd month) Riders time needs (school/work). to get to basic needs/services Too long (1.S to 3 hrs.) between Bus run extended Dec. t3 - Jan.1?3 Insufficient advertising New run Konawaena H. S. Feb. 'y7 Most people unaware of extension After school south to Milolii "School days only" OTHER IMPORTANT COMMENTS: 1. Until Government supports a Coordinated Public Transportation System, disjointed bus service is "doomed for failure". MAKE TRANSPORTATION A PRIORITYI 2. Construction along Alii Drive had a devastating effect on the "Trial Bua Run" - times, schedules, damage to buses, increased costs and unpredictability of service affected ridership. Henry Cho - "smaller buses would be better" while service and }s ~H}~~~a-}~ - g~~~M~~y supported by many members of Kona Transportation Task Force, Politicians & General Public. Losts to run the larger buses (driver costs, insurance and maintenance) about the same as for smaller buses, but smaller roads with steep hills and sharp turns especially during construction are better served by smaller buses. Maihaa Rayne advocates that 7 large, modern green-striped NEOPLAN ~dflf~}t$~~@~ ~dgpg~~bla buirr b• used along the major highways that circle the island. Smaller, handicapped accessible buses and vans can shuttle passengers from main terminals into residential and shopping areas to community recreation and social services. Establish Keauhou Shopping Center as a major terminal for S. Kona. As a zone change point & strong supporter of the HELEON, it depended upon transit to bring shoppers. Ask Kona Surf Hotel to coordinate their FREE SHUTTLE BUS to drop off and pick up passengers when the HELEON arrives! +The bus we have must read N. Kailua-Kona (from Milolii to Matsuyama Store) and S-Kona (from Matsuyama Store to Milolii) - and be advertised all along the route! Obtain a few smaller, handicapped accessible mini-buses, to service the downtown shopping malls, hotels, health b social services and recreational facilities. 4. To meet Federal Transportation Requirements, all Public Transportation Vehicles must be Handicapped Accessible by law. KUNA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE SUMMARY OF "TRIAL RUN" - page 3 **The KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK F'URCE STRONGLY ADVOCATES THAT SMALLER, HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES BE PURCHASED A.S.A.P. SYMBOL OF ACCESSIBILITY ON ALL BUSES and on schedules, Bus Stop Signs and advertieingl PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUSES EASILY IDENTIFIABLE Color and other clear markings STANDARDIZED 8 CONSISTENT! 6. COUNTY DESIGNATE BUS STOPS AT KEY POINTS ALONG THE ROUTE, "Bus Stop" signs and schedules posted! "Flag down" method of catching a bus is unfamiliar to many people (Oahu, mainland and all around the world!) and is unsafe for children, the elderly, handicapped and everyone, especially before sunrise and after sunset! No professional bus company would ask their passengers to "wave them down" along busy roads! Tom Brown says each Terminus requires a 80' area designated "No Parking" with days and hours of bus service posted. This can be done with County Council cooperation. Yost the schedule for stops at each location. Businesses and Malls have indicated a willingness to help create bus shelters along the route - be safer for everyone! Some suggestions for important fixed "stops" include: Captain Cook (Yano Hall, where a shelter already exists), Konawaena H. S. (school times), Kealakekua (by Banks or McDonalds g Post Office near UH West Campus), Kainaliu (by Oshima's Store and Aloha Theater), Honalo (by Teshima's), Keauhou Shopping Center (by KTA) - The KTTF agrees this is to be a main terminus of S. Kona, as it is the mayor shopping center and fare and zone change point! Other fixed stop locations at Kahalu'u Beach Park, Ali'i Drive near Royal Poinciana, Hale Halawai, Kailua Pier, Lanihau Center, Old Airport, K-mart, Crossroads, Kealakehe School and Palani Road (Palisades Estates/Matsuyama's). PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BUSES TO GO TO THE AIRPORTI ELECTED OFFICIALS MUST SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION AS A PRIORITY! TRANSPORTATION STIMULATES THE ECONOMY! Tom Brown - b - 8 years ago County buses "tried" to go to the airport. Taxi guys "ran ruckus". T.B. told by County Council "buses not to go in because of competition with taxis". Comments- Separate markets, car rental agencies serve another population. People who use Public Transportation are residents & visitors who are unable to drive (students and people under 25 yrs. old who are unable to rent cars, elderly and disabled who choose for health or safety reasons to use public transportation) and those with lower incomes. KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE MEETING SUMMARY - 1/22/97 Page 4 Different markets exist in every city. HONOLULU'S 'THE BUS' GOES TO THE AIRPORT & ALL AROUND THE ISLAND! Taxis blocking buses is a yokel ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO STEP IN! HOW CAN THEY HAVE ANY CREDIBILITY WHEN THEY ALLOW SUCH ILLEGAL ACTIONS! PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HAS A RIGHT TO GO INTO THE AIRPORT. TO BLOCK PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FROM GOING INTO PUBLIC PLACES IS ILLEGAL - IT'S TIME WE STOP ALLOWING THIS BEHAVIOR! When the POLICE FAIL TO ACT, THEY SUPPORT ILLEGAL ACTIONS. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POLICE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS who are making & enforcing rules and regulations TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE! Public Transportation is a PRIORITY which is a PUBLIC SERVICE! ENFORCE THE LAW OF FREEDOM OF ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION AND FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AROUND THE ISLAND! Public Transportation to Honokohau Harbor, as well as a stop at Kailua Pier and where the Cruise Ships dock at Hilo! 8. PEOPLE WANT EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION LINK-UPS WITH WAIKOLOA, and OPEN ACCESS INTO HOTELS, RESORTS and RECREATIONAL AREAS! CURRENT MONOPOLIES, ANll POLITICAL CONTROL OF TAXI LOBBIES, CAR RENTAL AGENCIES AND PRIVATE TOUR BUS OPERATORS HAS EXERTED FAR T00 MUCH INFLUENCE OVER PUBLIC DECISION MAKING FOR T00 LONG! THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO GO IN TO THESE PLACES - THE POLICE ARE TO ENFORCE THE LAW OF THE LAND AND SERVE THE PEOPLE! Tom Hrown's Comment - "Anything we do with the Business Group will tie in with the Intro-Kona Bus. RUN KONA EMPLOYEES TO KOHALA & VISITORS INTO KAILUA (better to open the bus up to even a few passengers between locations when we need to move the bus from one location to another) WILL TIE IN WITH THE TOTAL HELEON PLAN! 9. Leased Jack's Tour buses hard to recognize ae HELEON buses: Even after HELEON was printed on the side, hard to recognize from a distance, as there are many Jack's Tours vehicles on the road. The first month leased buses didn't have clear signs or markings. Eda with the cooperation of Mass Transit tried to make Jack's 'l'our buses look more like HELEON's with a large HELEON SIGN ON ONE SIDE (but on the HIGHWAY side, not on the PASSENGER, SIDEWALK SIDE:) and printed large white placard signs in the front window. Une leased bus could barely go up hills, (students late for school). Mechanical breakdowns requiring "downtime", extra driver hours/escalated costs.. We were grateful to have buses to use for the "trial run" and were told this was the best we could get for the money (54,000.00 per month). Ridership was affected by unpredictability and undependability of service (mechanical breakdowns and falling behind in the schedule). KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE SUMMARY OF "TRIAL RUN" - page 5 THE PEOPLE OF WEST HAWAII WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER SERVED BY HAVING AT LEAST 3 OF THE 7 NEW GREEN-S`I'RIPED HELEON COUNTY OWNED PUBLIC BUSES AVAILABLE '1'U SERVt THIS SIDE OF THE ISLAND AT ALL TIMES! THESE NEW BUSES ARE HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE TO MEET FEDERAL LAW, USUALLY RUN WELL WITH VERY FEW MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS, AND ARE EASILY RECOGNIZABLE AS "PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION" CONSISTENT WITH THE KONA TO HILO ESTABLISHED SERVICE! ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE ESTABLISHING NEW BUS SERVICE AND THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO IDENTIFY THE BUS AND DEPEND UPON THE SERVICE: KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE AND ADVERTISING/PUBLICITY: Bus Service advertised as a "test run" or "Trial Bus Run", PEOPLE UNSURE WHETHER THEY COULU COUNT ON IT. Prior to Maihaa's involvement (according to Merle & Dana) Publicity was poor in general, "blame can go to the Task Force Subcommittee on PR", which "fell apart" right after the bus run started after an initial high expenditure for incorrect "rack cards". NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING - Dates, frequency, size, dates and information contained in ads - Insufficient Newspaper ads and coverage (E. G. ONLY 1 AD IN ALL OVER NOVEMBER AND NO ADS FOR DECEMBER OR JANUARY - NO ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NEWSPAPER OF EXTENSION OF BUS SERVICE TO DECEMBER 31st and then TO JANUARY 18th, which would affect ridership). Tom Brown had to ok & authorize all ads & arrange payment. Advertising insufficient. Ad never went into West Hawaii Magazine - free & distributed to many homes! Radio Advertising - funds allocated and developed by Aaron, well- done, except they gave the impression that all our buses were new, air-conditioned and modern. We needed more information advertised about where to catch the bus, how to get a schedule, fares and where to phone for updates. Maihaa spoke to Rep. of Big Island Gold - re showing HELEON stops on maps & phone# to call for more Information. Cover in section on Public Transportation in all HAWAII TOUR BOOKS! SCHEDULES (Information, Effectiveness & Distribution): Starting mid-September: Maihaa developed new U-fold (b. 5" x 11") double sided schedule with map. Extremely cost effective - many businesses printed and distributed free of charge. Maihaa still has list 8 ads of businesses that sponsored. Maihaa received no financial compensation for her time for this work. Comments from the general public were very positive concerning the information contained in the triple-fold brochure (Where to buy tickets and bus passes and costs, how to obtain bus passes and rates, where to pick up schedules & bus times at various stops). KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCK SUMMARY OF' "TRIAL RUN" - page 6 People particularly liked map showing places along the route - even though the computer program being used was rudimentary. 'I'o some, the schedule seemed initially difficult to read and follow because there were so many times posted in such a concentrated space. The route was fairly complex because one bus was doing the entire area from Captain Look throughout Kailua- Kona, including all the residential and shopping areas. Unce it was explained people said it was actually quite easy to follow, and more helpful and complete than the original rack cards & schedules. The public expressed appreciation for having schedules available, for stores, the Mass Transit Agency and drivers who distributed them. The most frustrating and difficult part of publicity was that the initial rack cards had been distributed all over the city by many people, with no comprehensive record or way to retrieve them! Z was still finding these in places like the Mayor's Office in Kona up to November, and by the Hawaii Visitor's Center in January 19971 Because several schedules were made by the Mass Transit Agency within the first 3 weeks of the "trial bus run", it was very confusing for the public to know if they had the most current schedule, and the older ones were often way off in times, so no one knew when & where to catch the bus! This affected the trial bus run for months - likely for the whole period of the test. MAIHAA'S PUBLIC ACCESS T.V. SHOWS (3 half hour interviews with liana Eudaley and Merle Martin, videotaped August, televised one show per month, Sept.- December 1996. U0 second HELEON ad Cable Channel 10 - Kona and Ch. 2 - Hilo, also shown on Cable l3 - Kona. Interviews with Big Island Politicians produced in January 1997 as a half-hour show - "Politicians & Public 'T'ransportation". The production of the television programs for HELEON on Cable 10 and 2 was done as a volunteer without charge. Local businesses sponsored some part of costs. DECLARED INTENTION SUPPORTED BY TOM BROWN- MASS TRANSIT AGENCY: MASS TRANSIT AND BUSINESS GROUPS TO JOIN WITH KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP NEW OVERALL PLAN F'OR KONA & WEST HAWAII ***Tom Brown expressed his intention that the GROUP OF BUSINESS PEOPLE along with the KONA-KOHALA VISITOR'S INFORMATION & HAWAII VISIOR'S BUREAU JOIN WITH THE KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE rather than form one of their own. Thase groups to FORM ONE GROUP to WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE SOLUTIONS TO TRANSPORTATION NEEDS: KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE SUMMARY Ub' "TRIAL_BUS RUN" page INVOLVE EVERYONE WITH A STAKE IN TRANSPORTATION - DECISIONMAKERS! MAIHAA TO TYPE UY MINUTES OF' THIS MEETING. INSURE MAILING LIST IS UPDATED (Merle and Carrie 'I'.) add FAX numbers. FAX copies of minutes and new agenda to as many members ae possible within 2 weeks of date of meeting. Tom Brown of Mass Transit Agency will assist with FAXING and mailing out of minutes and agenda to all past members. A.S.A.P. requests this information put on computer disk (compatible with commonly used IBM programs available to Maihaa, Tom Brown). Request interested parties to contact us and attend meetings to give input and stay involved. Diane euitiquit, Mel Mossman, Marni Herkes, Uncle Billy, County Council Representatives and all other key interested parties informed and invited to all Meetings! Advertise upcoming meetings in the "COMING UP" SECTION OF THE NEWSPAPER! Everyone up to date: a. Trial Lius kun ended Jan. 18, 1997 b. All old schedules and information must be picked up. Each member being asked to pick up schedules where they dropped them off. Maihaa, Carrie 't'., Merle, Joanne P. ~ Cathy. c. "Average" ridership statistics and patterns of use submitted by Tom Brown. Meeting Evaluation: Missed Carrie when she didn't arrive (sick), Joanne P. requested someone else step into role as E'acilitator, and expressed that it is important for someone to assume leadership. Maihaa volunteered to do all she can. Started a few minutes late. Maihaa and Joanne did a good job. NEXT KONA TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE MEETING: llate: March 17, 1597. Time: 8:30 a. m. to 11:00 a. m. Location:Human Services Conference Hoom, Kealakekua (Heleki'i near the Korner Pocket) (duestions? Contact: Maihaa K. Rayne Co-ordinator $ Publicity Kona 'transportation '!'ask Force 76-133 koyal Poinciana llrive Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 Phone: (808) 329-6533