HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 623 Draft 01 2006-2008COUNTY OF HAWAII
STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 623
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A RESOLUTION TO EXPAND PUBLIC BUS SERVICE IN THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII.
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council acknowledges that County government should
take the lead in the effort to reduce the County's dependence on fossil fuels and other imported
resources for electrical energy and transportation; and
WHEREAS, bus transit benefits all Hawaii Island residents by reducing energy use and
pollution, easing traffic congestion, and making roads safer by allowing tired drivers to ride the
bus rather than drive; and
WHEREAS, the free, island-wide bus service recently implemented by the County mass
transit agency has had dramatic and positive effects on the quality and convenience of the
County's public transportation system; and
WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii County Energy Sustainability Plan, bus ridership
in the county has increased 25-40% each year since the mass transit agency implemented the free
bus policy in October 2005; and
WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii County Energy Sustainability Plan, County buses
are operating at 85-98% of capacity on the majority of their runs; and
WHEREAS, expanded bus ridership results in significant cost savings to the county
because buses use less fuel per passenger mile than private vehicles and the county typically
pays less for a gallon of diesel than consumers pay for a gallon of gasoline, as the county is
exempt from taxation on its fuel purchases; and
WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii County Energy Sustainability Plan, the County
mass transit agency should expand public bus service on Hawaii Island with the goal of
increasing the number of passenger trips by 20% per year until 2015; and
WHEREAS, an expanded public bus service provides an important service to County
residents, makes the County's roads safer, reduces pollution, and reduces oil imports; now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that,
starting immediately, the county implement measures to expand public bus service on Hawaii
Island and commit necessary funds to ensure that such expansion occurs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that short-term measures to expand island-wide public
bus service include: recruitment of additional drivers for under-served areas; recruitment of
additional maintenance personnel to keep up with a growing fleet of busses and vans; allocation
of additional funds to cover rising fuel costs; and procurement of additional busses and vans that
comply with the Hawaii Alternative Fuel Standard established by the State of Hawaii.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the mass transit agency work with other
appropriate County departments to draft a strategic plan designed to increase ridership 20% per
year through 2015 in order to meet the target established by the Hawaii County Energy
Sustainability Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the strategic plan shall include short and long-term
measures to expand the County's public bus service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the mayor present the draft strategic plan to the
council by May 1, 2009.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the County Clerk shall forward certified copies of
this resolution to the Honorable Mayor Harry Kim, the transit administrator of the mass transit
agency, and the director of the department of finance.
Dated at Hilo ,Hawaii, this 3rd day of June , 2008.
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
1 hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on Jana 4. BOOR
ATTEST:
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YOSHIMOTO X
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Reference: C-1180/ py~gC _ ~ 2
RESOLUTION NO. 62`3 ~8