HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0595.001 2008-2010
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Murashige, Laura (~;1 F-~
From: whoa [whao@hawaii.rr.com]3 ~Ju~ Z~
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 7:28 AM
To: council testimony
Cc: Tom Brown; SKTSC Secretary; Mayor Billy Kenoi; Pete Hoffmann; J Yoshimoto; E Naeole; D
Yagong; D Ikeda; B Ford; Guy Enriques; Kelly Greenwell; Dennis Onishi; Gunner Mench;
Gunner Mench
Subject: Hawaii County Council Meeting November 4, 2009 Testimony
Importance: High
Attachments: testimonykokuabusprogram0.pdf
Hawaii County Council Testimony attached requesting extension of Kokua Zone Bus program due to expire in
December, 2009 unless Council action extends the Program.
Comm. NO.
S (S.
Ref. To;
Ref. DoNp 3 2009
10/27/2009
South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee
P.O. Box 383375
Waikoloa, HI 96738
May 19, 2009
RE: TESTIMONY at the November 4, 2009 Hawaii County Council Meeting
Dear Council;
I am Michael Price and reside at 68-1794 Auhili Loop in Waikoloa Village, HI
96738. 1 am representing South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee. South Kohala
Traffic Safety Committee supports extending and expansion of the Kokua Zone
Bus Program island wide. This free bus service enhances traffic safety
throughout the County. We request your action to extend this program.
This Program will save lives and reduce the number traffic accidents in the
County. Many of the roads in Hawaii County are in fair to poor deteriorated
surface condition, most are 2 lane with opposing streams of traffic, the risk of
head on collisions is high. Vehicle operators need to be attentive and alert to
avoid accidents and injury. Many commuting workers living in East Hawaii
commuting to West Hawaii work places relying on the bus service as safe
transportation. Many start the day at 3:30 AM to travel across the island to start
work at 7:00 AM. Then after their shift ends, they travel back home arriving at
6:00 to 7:30 PM. Operator fatigue is a documented cause of vehicle operator
error resulting in death or injury accidents. With the historic high cost of
transportation and low wages the free bus service improves take-home income,
takes fatigued drivers off the road and reduces the number of vehicles
commuting daily. Bus loads of 80 people cause less wear and tear to the road,
traffic congestion and potential injury accidents than 40+ separate vehicles.
Opponents of free busing need to consider the additional cost to the County in
road maintenance costs, emergency response costs associated with traffic
accidents and the cost of setting up a paid ride system. The cost of bonding
drivers, installing cash collection equipment, hiring accounting staff to handle
cash will drive the cost of ridership to the point of not being affordable to
commuters, students and older fixed income riders. The alternative is to drive
separate vehicles. Even people who never ride the bus save money as a
taxpayer for road maintenance, emergency response and traffic law
enforcement; have a safer driving experience on less congested roads and
improve the lives of their neighbors by supporting the free bus service.
We feel that continued funding of the free bus service program is by far less
expensive than attempting to implement a paid program. Reducing the number
of injuries and deaths on our roads, providing safe transportation and improving
the quality of life for everyone is a major benefit of the free bus service. Thank
you for the opportunity to comment in support of The Kokua Zone Bus Program.
Your individual and combined support for extending and expanding this program
is requested and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Mike Price-Chair South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee