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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0895.001 2018-2020 pft"Cil Ro. W2-10 COMM.895 COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAII Tue 5/5/2020 8:52 AM RECEIVED Re:Testimony in Support of Reso 602-20 Time %04Vk By To: Council Testimony Date MAY 0 5 2020 Aloha Council Chair Chung,Vice Chair Eoff, Finance Committee Chair David and Vice Chair Richards, and esteemed members of the Finance Committee. Please disregard my request from 5/4 to pull the reso from the agenda and please accept my attached testimony in support of Resolution 602-20. Mahalo, Tina Clothier Gomm. No �� -- Ref.ToV, woul Ref. Date MAY - 6 2020 "` Peoples Advocacy For Trails Hawai'i Box 62, Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i 96745 Connecting PeOPTO AM Puce'- 808 -326-7284 www.pathhawaii.org May 1, 2020 Board of Directors Cindy Armer In Support of Resolution 602-20 Linda Jane Kelley Jane Bockus Derinda Thatcher Good Afternoon Council Chair Chung, Vice Chair Eoff, Finance Committee Chair David Jeff McDevitt, MD and Vice Chair Richards, and esteemed members of the Finance Committee. Mike Drutar Jolene Head I My name is Tina Clothier. I am the Strategic Projects Director for PATH—Peoples Franz Weber Advocacy for Trails Hawaii. Hannah Ako Kelly Hudik I am writing today to ask for your support of Res. 602-20 concerning the award of $30, 000 to PATH to help cover the cost of operations for the 3 months (April 10 Executive Director through June 30) during which PATH is giving free 60 minute ride memberships to any Valerie Overlap Hawaii Island resident 16 years and older.This membership is valued at$25.00 per Strategic Projects month and allows a member to check out a bikeshare bike at any of the 7 stations in Director Kona and 4 stations in Hilo for an unlimited number of 60 minute rides per day, week, Tina Clothier month. The requested amount will cover the cost of bike maintenance, including the Program Director cost of increased sanitation, and bike "balancing" (making sure that there are Paul Burke adequate bikes and docking ports at each station). It also includes customer service to help members sign up, as well the distribution of a member key card with which to unlock the bike. Mission To safely connect Since the launch of the program on 4/10 till May 1, we have had 329 county residents the people and places on Hawaii sign up for the program. As of May 1, these members have taken over 1200 rides for Island with pathways an average of 30 to 60 minutes each. While the greatest numbers of members come and bikeways. from the west side, 75 members live on the east side of the island. Residents from Hakalau, Oceanview, Waikoloa, Kealakekua, Pepeekeo,Volcano and Hawaiian Beaches, Hilo and Kona are using bikeshare as a way to get exercise and maintain their physical and mental health while practicing social distancing. Serving the Island of Hawaii The County has had a history of support of bikeshare beginning in 2016 when the since 1986 County Council approved funding for a bikeshare pilot project in Kailua-Kona, consisting of 3 stations and 32 bikes.The County Mass Transit plan recommends the support of bikeshare in Kona and Hilo and at each of the 5 Transit Hubs planned for the future, as a first and last mile alternative for transit riders. We are eager to engage with our Kamaaina members via email and text surveys to learn how we can continue to improve on the bikeshare program.This funding will not only cover our operational costs during COVID, it will help us explore an affordable annual fee for residents, the possibility of incorporating bikeshare into the :. 4: . Mass Transit pass system, and the SNAP program, in order to make bikeshare available for our residents who donot use abank orhave acredit card. The $3O,OOUrequested will come from the bikeway fund that iofunded bybicycle and moped registrations at rate of average 6,000 registrations per year. Thank you so much for your consideration of this request and for your support of this alternative transportation and exercise opportunity for our residents during this time of great stress. Thank you also for the admirable work that you are doing to govern our county under these challenging circumstances. K4aha|o Tina Clothier '