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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1180.001 2006-2008 m ~ ~/'1, II~ Murashi e, Laura ,M1 From: fames Weatherford [gardengreen@hawaiiantel.net ~~~~p` _:~Y `f } '~~~~@ Sent j . Thursday, May 01, 2008 8.00 PM ~ To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us Subject. Resolution 623-08 -SUPPORT ~ r • i r Support for Resolution 623-08 ~3~ ~ ' » PUBLIC BUS SERVICE IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII Directing the County of Hawaii Mass Transit Agency and the Administration to draft a strategic plan to be presented to the Council by May 1, 2009 designed to increase ridership 20 percent per year through 2015 as recommended in the Hawaii County Energy Sustainability Plan These comments are derived from my own professional experience as a Senior Policy Analyst for a mass transit agency, where my responsibilities included, among other tasks, conducting detailed economic analyses using ridership data and developing fare structures. A problem all too common is that mass transit becomes seen - by elected officials, transit administrators, and the community at large - as a social service for people who have no other options for the most basic mobility. With this narrowly defined purpose, mass transit fails in providing a viable mobility option for most people. A successful mass transit service must be safe, reliable, and accessible. The service must also take riders where they need to go, when they need to be there. Buses, bus stops, and bus terminals must be safe from natural elements and from criminal activity. A would-be rider must be able to rely on pickup and set-down at times and places that meet their needs; and those times and places must be accurately posted on readily available and easily understood schedules. Bus stops and bus terminals must be marked and located to facilitate ease of use. Bus schedules and bus routes must be at times and at locations that serve the needs of a broad range of people in the community. For example: students, commuting workers, tourists, and people conducting regular everyday travel for shopping, entertainment, medical appointments, and use of government services,. Hawaii County Mass Transit Authority services are not reliable, safe, and accessible. Hawaii County Mass Transit Authority services are not effective at taking people where they need to go, when they need to be there. The claim has been made that Hawaii County's free mass transit has increased ridership dramatically. Furthermore, it is also assumed by some that this alleged increase in ridership has reduced travel in low-occupancy vehicles. Sometimes the cost of bus fare can be an impediment to ridership, although the empirical evidence is mixed. Poor service, even when free, will not get people out of their cars and onto the bus. Free mass transit can serve to attract noisy troublemakers with nothing else to do but cruise around on the bus. An independent assessment of claims of increased ridership and associated reduction in low-occupancy vehicles is necessary. It is well known that ridership data manually collected by drivers is prone to error, and of limited value in strategic planning. If the Hawaii County Mass Transit Agency has increased or, in accordance with ~©mm. 1 ~f. To. ~rA~ G ~~f. D...._.~Q~ Resolution 623-08, is to increase ridership, then, who will be the riders and how will they be attracted to get on the bus? James Weatherford PO Box 2017 Keaau, Hawaii 96749 2