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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0450.006 2004-2006 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura _w. From: Bob Ward [rgward007@hawaii.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 1.03 PM ! To: Council Testimony Subject: Bill 154 -mass transit 1 would like to submit the following written testimony related to Bill 154 on Mass Transit. Robert Ward Comm. Rlo. ~ Ref. To: Ref. Late 11 /8/2005 TESTIMONY -Second Reading: Bill 154 Prepared by: Robert Ward 77-6526 Ho'olaupa'i St Kailua Kona, HI 96740 Thank you for the opportunity to share my concerns. I am a supporter of a strong Mass Transit system in the County of Hawaii. However, our current free system was established on a trial basis. While it is a nice thing to do, we should treat this like an experiment and take the time to collect data, evaluate the results, and then decide if it is the best way to build a strong mass transit system in Hawaii. Should we not wait and make sure we have the right answer? Larger systems have tried this on a limited basis. The TriMet provides fareless operation in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. The UTA does not collect fares within a 4 square block area of central Salt Lake City, Utah. In both cases this policy was implemented due to critical parking shortages and extreme congestion. Both agencies confined the policy to very small percentage of the area they serve. While they both continue this method today they depend on the revenues from the farebox to build a stronger transit svstem. Austin, Texas experimented with a free ridership system in 1989. They found that ridership climbed 87percent. But they also found that truancy in the school svstem had lumped. Complaints of crime, vandalism and abuse onboard busses had tripled! They discontinued the experiment. They do offer free rides on days when the ozone level exceeds standards, but they still rely on collected fares to expand their svstem. Simply reducing fares with a Weekly, Monthly and Annual Pass svstem can radically lower transportation costs for residents while reducing administrative costs of collecting daily fares. Not only will residents be afforded the opportunity to "buy into" the service, but tourists and visitors can contribute to the operation of the system, as well. Hundreds of residents can save a thousand dollars or more per year through reduced fares or eliminating a vehicle. Nearly twenty cruise ships per month that will visit the ports of Hilo and Kailua could provide hundreds of Weekly pass users. Other visitors and anticipated Hawaii Super Ferry customers could translate into thousands of users in the years to come. Mass transit requires capital to prow stronger. That may be more important than offering free rides. There are many reasons why people don't ride busses, but "because it's not free" is usually not in the top ten. We need a stronger system to provide sustainable mass transit that more people can use: 1) Discounted Passes a) Attract new riders b) Lowers collection costs c) Reduced shrinkage of collected fares d) Collect vital ridership data for managing system growth e) Support origin -destination analysis f) Maintain onboard safety and security g) Retain revenue for expansion h) Attracts riders from all income brackets i) Donations not required j) Employee reimbursement is simplified 2) Add convenient scheduling a) Attract new riders b) Reduce drunk driving c) Shorter headway and more frequent service d) More express routes e) Evening service fl Weekends and holidays 3) Add routes a) Improve local circulation patterns b) Provide better schedule coordination c) Replace poorly performing DOE routes d) Moku regatta e) Special events 4) School routes a) 60 times safer than automobiles b) Reliable service c) Class credit d) Mentors/chaperones e) Homeroom f) Special events 5) Freight a) Small package delivery b) County mail c) Medical service d) LISPS 6) Origin Destination analysis a) Volume data b) Time of day info c) Fluctuation d) User demographics e) Service changes 7) Reaching system a) Taxi b) Carpool c) Paratransit d) Short shuttle e) Circulation route f) Regional park and ride g) Subdivision kiss and ride h) Supplement with commercial services i) Subdivision ordinance: route compatibility, bus stops and parking access. 8) GPS / AVL (cumtd.com, nextbus.com, orbital.com, siemensVDO.com) a) Electronic location maps b) Next departure time to the minute c) Internet arrival alerting system: PC, Cell, PDA, text, palm, etc. d) Instant tracking of bus location e) Management reports f) Breakdowns and locations transmitted instantly g) Emergency response locations identified h) Accident investigation data reduces liability i) Speed compliance can be monitored j) Traffic signal preemption (if late, or express) k) Automatically cue stop announcements and local features I) Link bus service to taxi service m) Manage on time performance n) Supplies hard data to DPW on current travel times o) Real time passenger counts p) Equipment monitoring information to dispatcher q) Ridership increases (13.5% in Delaware) 9) Features a) Pupus b) Bike racks c) Surf and Boogey Board racks d) Beverages e) Reversible seats 10) Commercial links a) Advertising onboard b) Event tie-ins c) Integrate commercial shuttles d) relocate employee lots from resorts e) vending equipment f) shelter sponsors 11) Targeted groups a) Social groups b) Religious groups c) Special events d) Regatta season e) Survey data "What will it take to get you on the bus?" fl Major destinations g) Major employers h) Automotive repair service 12) BRT -Bus Rapid Transit a) Traffic signal preemption priority b) Faster than cars c) Express scheduling d) Separate focal service from "intercity" 13) Marketing a) Pau Hana b) Cultural adventure c) Health issues: lower low stress d) Foreign oil e) Not just affordable "-50 foot limo" f) Your "loaner car" g) Target car rentals h) Map distribution 14) Standardize shelters a) Maintenance at lowest cost b) Local community involvement c) Correction System -Community service construction d) Provides comfort while waiting e) Shelter from sun and rain f) Use recycled materials -extruded composite plastic g) System information for routes and schedules Thank you for your time and your consideration.