HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 031 08/21/2007 2006-2008 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
DATE: August 21, 2007 Re: Comm. No. 591/Bill 145
PLACE: Council Chambers
333 Kilauea Avenue
Ben Franklin Building, 2"d Floor
Hilo, HI 96720
TIME: 12:10 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, to which was referred
Bill 145, relating to extending the original two-year time period of the designated transportation
kokua zone until December 31, 2009, reports as follows:
Bill 145, transmitted by County Council Chair Pete Hoffman via Communication No. 591, dated
August 2, 2007, relating to an ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the Hawaii County Code 1983
(2005 Edition, as amended) relating to public transportation.
Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from two members of the public.
Your Committee also heard from Tom Brown, Mass Transit Administrator along with his
assistant, Tiffany Kai, regarding extending the original two-year time period of the designated
transportation kokua zone until December 31, 2009. According to Mr. Brown, since the
implementation of the island wide kokua zone program in 2005, his department has seen a
tremendous increase in ridership. They have added buses and routes with this increase. At the
end of this current fiscal year, June 2007 the ridership of 192,000 on the East Hawaii to South
Kohala bus route. The growth of Inter-Kona routes ridership is from 8,500 to 22,000. The
overall ridership increase is especially gratifying for his department. Mr. Brown respectfully
request this program continues another two years.
Your Committee commented and agreed with Mr. Brown that the kokua zone program benefits
are an economic driver and not an economic burden. This mass transportation is an option that
offers our distant workers traveling away from their homes to their place of employment. The
need of increasing our awareness of energy self-sufficiency and lessening traffic is beneficial to
our community. The social benefits with the increase in ridership helps the quality of life for our
community members as they are able to visit with friends, family, shop or travel to doctor's
appointments.
Mr. Brown welcomed all comments, suggestions. Mr. Brown added another benefit for the
riders is the comfort of traveling during long trips and heavy traffic.
Your Committee commented that through our successes there are challenges and issues that we
will need to address. As ridership increases, meeting the needs of the rural areas, uncovered bus
stops will need to be considered. Setting aside funds and planning will need to be done as this
program continues to grow.
Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accord with the purpose
and intent of Bill No. 145, and recommends it pass first reading.
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Aves NOES A&E Ex Respectfully submitted,
FORD X
HIGA x COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HOFFMANN x INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
IKEDA X L;~
JACOBSON X
NAEOLE X BREND~RD, CHAIR
PILAGO X
vncoNC x PWIRC REPORT NO. 31
YOSHIMOTO X ADOPTED: SEP 0 g 2007