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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 Hawaii Transit StudyExpanding Transportation Opportunities on Hawai‘i Island Report prepared for The Kohala Center by University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment Authors: Jonas Epstein, Trevor Mcmanamon, Maite Madrazo, Daphne Medina, and Xiaofei Wen With additional funding provided by The Frederick A. And Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise   1  |  Page     TABLE  OF  CONTENTS   1:  EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY  .....................................................................................................................  4   INTRODUCTION  ................................................................................................................................  4   HAWAI`I  ISLAND  GROUND  TRANSPORTATION  INFRASTRUCTURE  .....................................................  4   COMMUTING  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND  ...................................................................................................  5   The  Challenges  of  Transit  .....................................................................................................................  5   Characteristics  of  Hawai`i  County  Commuters  ....................................................................................  5   Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  ...................................................................................................  7   MAPPING  TRANSIT  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND  ..........................................................................................  7   MAUI  COUNTY  PUBLIC  TRANSIT  .......................................................................................................  9   THE  CASE  FOR  IMPROVING  THE  TRANSPORTATION  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND  .......................................  10   Optimizing  Public  Transit  with  Technology  Solutions  ........................................................................  10   Private  Investments  and  Transportation  Alternatives  .......................................................................  12   CONCLUSION  ..................................................................................................................................  15   2:  PROJECT  OVERVIEW  .......................................................................................................................  16   INTRODUCTION  ..............................................................................................................................  16   PROJECT  OBJECTIVES  ......................................................................................................................  16   OVERVIEW  OF  STAKEHOLDERS  .......................................................................................................  17   3:  GROUND  TRANSPORTATION  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND  AND  OTHER  RURAL  LOCALITIES  .........................  18   RURAL  TRANSIT  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  ..........................................................................................  18   Characteristics  of  Rural  Populations  ..................................................................................................  18   Rural  Transit  Providers  .......................................................................................................................  19   Challenges  for  Rural  Transit  Service  Providers  ..................................................................................  19   HAWAI`I  COUNTY  GROUND  TRANSPORTATION  ..............................................................................  20   Transportation  Infrastructure  ............................................................................................................  20   Characteristics  of  Hawai`i  County  Commuters  ..................................................................................  21   HAWAI`I  COUNTY  MASS  TRANSIT  AGENCY  .....................................................................................  27   Analysis  of  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  ..................................................................................................  28   MAPPING  TRANSIT  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND  ........................................................................................  29   Analysis  of  Maps  ................................................................................................................................  29   Limitations  of  Analysis  .......................................................................................................................  38   Creating  These  Maps  .........................................................................................................................  38   4:  MAUI  COUNTY  -­‐  A  PUBLIC  TRANSIT  CASE  STUDY  ............................................................................  39   MAUI  COUNTY  PUBLIC  TRANSIT  .....................................................................................................  39   Maui  County  Short  Range  Transit  Plan  ..............................................................................................  40   Technology  Currently  Employed  by  Maui  ..........................................................................................  42   Comparing  Hawai`i  and  Maui  ............................................................................................................  43   Conclusion  ..........................................................................................................................................  44     2  |  Page     5:  THE  CASE  FOR  IMPROVING  THE  TRANSPORTATION  INFRASTRUCTURE  OF  HAWAI`I  ISLAND  ...........  45   OVERCOMING  THE  TRANSPORTATION  CHALLENGES  ......................................................................  45   THE  TECHNOLOGY  VALUE  PROPOSITION  FOR  HELE-­‐ON  ..................................................................  45   PRIVATE  INVESTMENTS  IN  TRANSIT  INFRASTRUCTURE  OF  HAWAI`I  ISLAND  ...................................  46   6:  OPTIMIZING  PUBLIC  TRANSIT  WITH  TECHNOLOGY  SOLUTIONS  ......................................................  47   TECHNOLOGY  IN  MASS  TRANSIT  .....................................................................................................  47   Existing  Technology  Options  and  their  Benefits  ................................................................................  48   RURAL  TRANSIT  TECHNOLOGY  CASE  STUDIES  .................................................................................  53   Case  Study  1:  Modoc  County,  California  ............................................................................................  53   Case  Study  2:  Poinciana,  Florida  ........................................................................................................  54   CUTTING  EDGE  RESEARCH  ..............................................................................................................  55   CONCLUSIONS  ABOUT  TECHNOLOGY  ..............................................................................................  56   Key  Technologies  for  Hele-­‐On  ............................................................................................................  57   ANALYSIS  OF  POTENTIAL  VENDORS  ................................................................................................  57   ActSoft  ...............................................................................................................................................  58   NextBus  ..............................................................................................................................................  59   Syncromatics  ......................................................................................................................................  60   Teletrac  ..............................................................................................................................................  61   Trapeze  ..............................................................................................................................................  62   TSO  Mobile  ........................................................................................................................................  64   Summary  of  Companies  and  Services  ................................................................................................  65   CONCLUSIONS  AND  NEXT  STEPS  .....................................................................................................  66   7:  PRIVATE  INVESTMENTS  AND  TRANSPORTATION  ALTERNATIVES  ....................................................  68   OPPORTUNITY:  BUILDING  A  RIDESHARE  NETWORK  ........................................................................  68   The  Need  for  Ridesharing  Networks  in  Hawai`i  County  .....................................................................  68   Best  Practices  for  Ridesharing  Networks  ...........................................................................................  69   Considerations  for  Establishing  a  Rideshare  Network  on  Hawai`i  Island  ...........................................  71   OPPORTUNITY:  ESTABLISHING  A  VANPOOL  NETWORK  ...................................................................  77   Vanpool  Network  Structures  .............................................................................................................  78   Best  Practices  For  Vanpooling  Networks  ...........................................................................................  78   Funding  a  Vanpool  Network  ..............................................................................................................  79   RECOMMENDATIONS  .....................................................................................................................  80   Creating  a  Rideshare  Network  on  Hawai`i  Island  ...............................................................................  80   Comparison  of  Rideshare  Options  .....................................................................................................  87   User  Cost  Comparisons  ......................................................................................................................  88   Feasibility  Analysis  .............................................................................................................................  89   8:  APPENDICIES  ..................................................................................................................................  98   APPENDIX  A:  PROJECT  PLAN  AND  HYPOTHESES  ..............................................................................  99   Project  Plan  ........................................................................................................................................  99   Project  Hypotheses  ..........................................................................................................................  100     3  |  Page     APPENDIX  B:  SOURCES  OF  INFORMATION  ....................................................................................  101   APPENDIX  C:  COUNTY  OF  HAWAI`I  FINANCIAL  DATA  ....................................................................  103   APPENDIX  D:  CREATING  THE  MAPS  ..............................................................................................  104   APPENDIX  E:  TRANSPORTATION  MANAGEMENT  ..........................................................................  106   APPENDIX  F:  EXISTING  MOBILE  RIDESHARE  PROVIDERS  ...............................................................  110   APPENDIX  G:  THE  ECONOMICS  OF  CARPOOLING  ..........................................................................  112   APPENDIX  H:  UNIVERSTY  OF  MICHIGAN  TEAM  BIOGRAPHIES  .......................................................  113   ILLUSTRATIONS,  TABLES,  AND  FIGURES  ........................................................................................  115   REFERENCES  .................................................................................................................................  117                                                                                                                                       4  |  Page     1:  EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY   INTRODUCTION   Residents  of  Hawai`i  Island  pay  some  of  the  highest  rates  for  electricity  and  petroleum  products  among   residents  of  the  United  States.1  Moreover,  the  islands  of  the  Hawaiian  archipelago  rely  almost  entirely   on  imported  petroleum  fuels  for  both  transportation  and  energy  generation.2  Though  Hawai`i  Island  has   integrated  more  renewable  energy  onto  its  electrical  grid  than  anywhere  else  in  the  U.S.,3  the  reliance   on  fossil  fuel  remains  high  because  more  than  half  the  energy  demand  of  the  island  can  be  attributed  to   transportation.4  Traditionally  mass  transit  systems  can  be  used  to  increase  energy  efficiency,  as  well  as   energy  sustainability;  as  a  result  we  have  designed  this  project  to  explore  the  need  for  improvements  to   this  system.  We  will  develop  suggestions  for  optimizing  the  current  system,  as  well  as  potential   alternatives  that  include  the  establishment  of  carpooling  and  ridesharing  networks  that  would  decrease   the  number  of  private  vehicles  used  and  thus  fuel  consumption.   The  University  of  Michigan  team  was  engaged  by  The  Kohala  Center  to  examine  and  analyze  the  public   transit  system  of  Hawai`i  Island.  The  primary  objective  of  the  project  is  to  develop  a  set  of   recommendations  for  public  and  private  investments  focused  on  high-­‐impact  solutions  to  reduce  fossil   fuel  use  in  the  island’s  ground  transportation  system,  while  improving  accessibility  and  lowering  travel   times  for  commuters.   HAWAI`I  ISLAND  GROUND  TRANSPORTATION  INFRASTRUCTURE   On  Hawai`i  Island  the  vast  majority  of  residents  (69%)  choose  to  commute  alone  via  personal  vehicles   like  cars,  trucks  and  vans,  while  only  2%  of  commuters  choose  public  transit  to  get  to  work.5  The   remainder  of  the  workforce  either  carpools  to  work  or  works  from  home.6       Currently,  commuters  are  served  by  a  few  major   two-­‐lane  highways  that  transport  residents  from   one  side  of  the  island  to  the  other.  Hawai`i  Belt   Road  (Highway  19)  is  a  major  route  from  Hilo  to   Kailua-­‐Kona  and  it  takes  a  driver  2  hours  and   approximately  95  miles.7  This  is  the  road  preferred   by  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  because  the  population   lives  along  this  road  making  pick-­‐ups  ideal.8  The   other  option  for  this  trip  is  the  newly  opened  Daniel   K.  Inouye  Highway  passing  between  Mauna  Kea  and   Mauna  Loa  and  connecting  the  existing  Saddle  Road   (Highway  200)  to  Mamalahoa  Highway.9  This  route   starting  in  Hilo  and  ending  in  Kona  is  about  77  miles   long  and  will  take  drivers  1  hour  and  38  minutes  to   traverse.10     HAWAI`I  ISLAND   Figure  1-­‐1:  Road  Map  of  Hawai`i  Island     5  |  Page     COMMUTING  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND   THE  CHALLENGES  OF  TRANSIT   The  population  of  Hawai`i  Island  is  highly  dispersed  and  rural,  making  efficient  transportation  and   particularly  public  transit  challenging.  Those  that  commute  alone  using  their  personal  vehicles  must   cover  vast  distances  on  a  daily  basis  and  are  often  paying  a  premium  for  fossil  fuels.  Transit  service   providers  also  face  a  number  of  challenges  in  delivering  high  quality,  convenient  and  cost-­‐effective   transit  options  for  their  clientele.  They  are  asked  to  serve  a  large  area  with  a  dispersed  population  with  a   limited  budget.  Providers  must  optimize  their  systems  to  cover  long  distances  and  occasionally  difficult   terrain.11  They  must  rely  on  a  variety  of  fleet  vehicles,  causing  the  need  for  more  administrative   capacity,  operational  and  maintenance  knowledge  and  general  coordination.     CHARACTERISTICS  OF  HAWAI`I  COUNTY  COMMUTERS   As  mentioned  previously  Hawai`i  Island  residents  primarily  choose  to  commute  to  work  by  personal   automobile  (cars,  trucks  and  vans).  While  most  commute  alone,  about  15%  participate  in  carpooling  to   get  to  work.  Compared  to  the  United  States  as  a  whole,  carpooling  is  highly  successful  on  Hawai`i  Island.   Less  than  2%  of  the  population  takes  public  transit  to  get  to  work,  but  at  the  same  time  that  is  almost   three  times  the  national  average  for  other  rural  areas.     Table  1-­‐1:  Modes  of  Commuting      United   States   Rural  Hawai'i  County  Maui  County   Mode  Used     Commuting   alone     76.4%  81.4%  72.7%  68.4%   Carpooling  9.8%  9.9%  14.5%  14,9%   Public  Transit  5.0%  0.6%  1.7%  2.3%   Other  8.8%  8.1%  11.1%  14.9%     Data from American Community Survey   The  median  income  in  Hawai`i  County  is  slightly  below  the  rest  of  the  United  States  and  other  rural   populations.  Figure  1-­‐2  shows  that  those  who  commuted  alone  using  their  own  personal  vehicle  on  the   whole  earned  more  than  those  who  carpooled  or  used  public  transit.  Interestingly,  in  Hawai`i  County   public  transit  commuters  had  a  much  lower  median  earnings  level.  They  only  earned  $16k,  while  those   that  commuted  alone  or  via  carpool  earned  almost  twice  that  amount.  This  suggests  that  lower  income   commuters,  who  do  not  have  access  to  or  cannot  afford  a  personal  vehicle,  predominantly  use  the   public  transit  system  on  Hawai`i  Island.       6  |  Page     Figure  1-­‐2     The  Figure  1-­‐3  shows  average  commute  lengths  for  the  different  types  of  Hawai‘i  Island  commuters..   Among  all  the  residents  of  the  island,  the  average  time  it  takes  to  commute  to  work  is  between  25  and   30  minutes,  which  is  similar  to  the  national  average.  Public  transit  commutes  in  the  United  States  tend   to  be  longer  than  solo  and  carpool  commutes  with  the  average  of  48  minutes;  public  transit  commutes   on  Hawai`i  Island  are  substantially  longer  at  68  minutes.  In  fact,  more  than  50%  of  public  transit   commuters  on  the  island  have  a  commute  of  60  minutes  or  longer.     Figure  1-­‐3     Total  Commujng   Alone  Carpooling  Public  Transit   United  States  $32,417    $35,132    $26,013    $30,950     Rural  $31,653    $32,287    $27,690    $31,920     Hawai'i  County  $29,492    $30,393    $27,714    $16,343      $-­‐          $5,000      $10,000      $15,000      $20,000      $25,000      $30,000      $35,000      $40,000    Earnings  Per  Capita  Hawai'i  County  Median  Earning    -­‐          10.00      20.00      30.00      40.00      50.00      60.00      70.00      80.00     0%   10%   20%   30%   40%   50%   60%   70%   80%   90%   100%   Total  Commujng   Alone   Carpooling  Public  Transit   Hawai'i  County  Commute  Length      60  or  more  minutes      45  to  59  minutes      30  to  44  minutes      20  to  29  minutes      10  to  19  minutes      Less  than  10  minutes      Mean  travel  jme  to  work   (minutes)     7  |  Page     HAWAI`I  COUNTY  MASS  TRANSIT  AGENCY   The  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  collects  ridership  data  and  currently  delivers  public   transportation  with  its  Hele-­‐On  bus  service  and  shared  taxi  program.12  The  Hele-­‐On  bus  offers  16  route   options  that  range  from  intra-­‐city  (i.e.  Kona  and  Hilo)  to  inter-­‐city  (i.e.  Hilo  to  Waimea)  to  trans-­‐island   (i.e.  Hilo  to  Kohala  resorts).  The  fare  for  riding  the  bus  has  recently  increased  (as  of  July  1,  2013)  from   $1.00  to  $2.00  per  ride  and  from  free  to  $1.00  for  students,  disabled  individuals  and  seniors.13  The   shared  taxi  program  offers  door-­‐to-­‐door  taxi  service  within  Hilo  and  Kona  for  between  $2.00-­‐3.00  for   trips  fewer  than  four  miles  and  between  $6.00-­‐9.00  for  trips  fewer  than  nine  miles.  The  agency  is  funded   by  money  from  the  local  and  federal  governments,  but  receives  no  state  funding  for  their  operations.14     Figure  1-­‐4   Ridership  has  been  gradually  increasing  since  the  service  began.  According  to  the  most  recent  available   Comprehensive  Fiscal  Report  produced  by  Hawai`i  County  for  the  Fiscal  Year  ending  on  June  30,  2011,   the  ridership  surpassed  1  million  passengers  in  2010  and  reached  approximately  1.15  million  in  2011.15   As  of  2011,  the  agency  owned  a  fleet  of  56  vehicles  to  serve  these  riders.16   MAPPING  TRANSIT  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND   In  the  spatial  analysis  section,  we  first  mapped  current  bus  routes  and  the  spatial  distribution  of   population  density,  work  hubs  and  recreational  hubs.  Next,  we  compared  the  transit  needs  (implied  by   the  spatial  distribution  maps)  around  Hawai`i  Island  with  current  bus  route  coverage  to  develop  a   preliminary  understanding  about  whether  the  current  mass  transit  system  reaches  enough  riders  while   evaluating  the  possibilities  of  potential  improvements.     Not  surprisingly,  these  maps  we  created  show  that  population,  work  hubs  and  recreational  hubs  of   Hawaii  Island  are  clustered  around  the  perimeter  of  the  island  at  major  towns  including  Hilo,  Keaau,   Mountain  View,  Pahoa,  Ocean  View,  Kealakekua,  Keauhou,  Kailua-­‐Kona,  Waikoloa,  Waimea  and  Hawi.   Work  hubs  are  especially  clustered  around  Hilo  and  Kailua-­‐Kona.  Based  on  our  analysis  of  the  current   public  transit  system  we  have  determined  that  Hilo  and  Kailua-­‐Kona  are  two  of  the  most-­‐served  areas  in    -­‐          0.2      0.4      0.6      0.8      1.0      1.2      1.4     2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  Millions  of  Passengers  Year   Hawaii  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  Ridership     8  |  Page     terms  of  routes  passing  through  or  within,  with  four  routes  within  Hilo,  six  routes  to  or  from  Hilo  and   four  routes  to  or  from  Kailua-­‐Kona.   Our  results  show  that  two  or  more  bus  routes  serve  most  of  the  works  hubs,  recreation  hubs,  and   population  clusters.  However,  Mountain  View,  Pahoa  and  Pahala  are  only  served  by  one  bus  route.   Moreover,  Mauna  Kea  State  Park,  a  very  popular  attraction,  is  completely  out  of  bus  service  at  this  point   because  it  is  on  Saddle  Road,  which  lacks  bus  routes.  Hilo  International  and  Kona  International  Airport,   the  major  airports  on  the  island,  also  have  limited  bus  service.   This  preliminary  analysis  suggests  that  the  Mass  Transit  Authority  may  be  able  to  streamline  the  Hele-­‐On   bus  system  by  identifying  redundancies  or  unnecessary  overlap  in  the  current  routing  and  scheduling   system.     Figure  1-­‐5           9  |  Page     MAUI  COUNTY  PUBLIC  TRANSIT   Of  the  Hawai`ian  Islands,  Maui  County  is  most  similar  to  Hawai`i  County  due  to  their  relatively  rural   settings.  Because  of  these  similarities  we  completed  a  case  study  of  the  bus  system  on  Maui.   Investigating  the  origins  of  the  Maui  bus  system,  its  current  status,  and  its  plans  for  future   improvements  can  provide  some  useful  information  for  Hele-­‐On.  Maui’s  routes  and  schedules  were   initially  developed  based  on  an  objective  scoring  system,  and  today  service  expansion  is  generally  driven   by  demand  from  the  public.  Maui  currently  uses  Geographic  Information  Systems  (GIS)  to  a  much   greater  extent  than  Hele-­‐On  does.  This  has  allowed  Maui  to  develop  route  maps  and  schedules  that  are   visually  appealing  and  clear  (see  the  figure  below).  Additionally,  Maui  uses  Google  Transit  to  publish   information  about  their  services,  and  the  process  for  collaborating  with  Google  was  not  difficult  at  all.   While  other  technological  solutions  are  not  currently  used  by  Maui,  they  are  looking  into  investing  in   Global  Positioning  Systems  (GPS),  as  well  as  a  system  that  can  automatically  track  ridership.    The  Maui   system’s  budget  is  over  double  that  of  Hele-­‐On,  as  is  its  ridership.  While  Hawai‘i  Island’s  ability  to   immediately  offer  all  of  the  same  services  that  Maui  offers  in  these  areas  is  not  feasible,  collaborating   with  Maui  Transit  officials  and  looking  into  incorporating  some  of  their  innovations  offers  the  best  path   forward  and  could  provide  benefits  to  the  residents  of  Hawai`i  Island.   Figure  1-­‐6:  Map  of  Maui  Transit        From  http://www.mauicounty.gov     10  |  Page     THE  CASE  FOR  IMPROVING  THE  TRANSPORTATION  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND   Transportation  on  Hawai`i  Island  is  complicated  and  presents  great  challenges.  There  is  rising  and  more   complex  demand  for  public  transit  service,  operational  costs  are  increasing,  and  resources  are  limited.  In   recent  years,  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  (MTA)  has  persistently  worked  towards  expanding  its  Hele-­‐On   services  and  providing  residents  with  suitable  transportation  options  and  an  improved  experience.   However,  the  Agency  still  faces  many  challenges  to  expand  while  maintaining  high  quality  service.  At  the   same  time  the  Island’s  traffic  is  getting  worse,  fuel  expenses  are  a  huge  burden  and  vehicle  carbon   emissions  are  increasing,  as  many  people  commute  alone  in  their  personal  vehicles.   We  have  developed  a  set  of  recommendations  for  stakeholders  to  consider  when  working  to  mitigate   these  issues.  First,  we  will  focus  on  technology  investments  for  the  Hele-­‐On  public  transit  system.  Then,   we  will  discuss  private  sector  investments  that  could  provide  alternative,  cost-­‐effective  ways  to   commute  on  Hawai`i  Island.   OPTIMIZING  PUBLIC  TRANSIT  WITH  TECHNOLOGY  SOLUTIONS   To  address  the  complexity  of  transportation  on  Hawai`i  Island  and  the  challenges  that  the  Mass  Transit   Agency  is  facing,  we  identified  two  overarching  areas  of  opportunity  that  can  facilitate  the  transition  to  a   more  economically,  socially  and  environmentally  sustainable  mass  transit  system  for  Hawai`i  Island.  The   following  graphic  introduces  these  two  areas,  the  different  segments  in  which  they  may  be  targeted,   and  the  potential  benefits  they  could  provide.  Subsequently,  we  identified  key  technologies  that  can   improve  these  segments  when  implemented.   Figure  1-­‐7:  Areas  of  Opportunity       11  |  Page     There  are  many  available  technologies  for  improved  transportation  systems  used  worldwide.  After  an   extensive  analysis  of  available  technology  options,  we  identified  the  following  as  the  most  beneficial  for   the  Hele-­‐On  transit  system:     1. Automated  Passenger  Counting  (APC)  to  determine  ridership  trends  and  optimize  routes,  vehicle   types  and  pricing  depending  on  capacity  vs.  demand.   2. Geographic  Information  Systems  (GIS)-­‐  to  create  and  provide  easy  and  appealing  information  on   routes  and  schedules  and  maintain  a  clear  vision  of  the  system.   3. Automatic  Vehicle  Location  (AVL)-­‐  While  Hele-­‐On  already  utilizes  AVL  internally,  additional   benefits  can  be  realized  by  coupling  with  routing  optimizing  software  and  by  generating  useful   and  accessible  information  for  riders.   4. Mobile  Data  Terminals  (MDT)-­‐  to  make  the  integration  of  technology  systems  easier  and  more   seamless,  and  to  maintain  digital  records  of  all  operations.   5. Real  Time  Passenger  Information  (RTPI)-­‐  to  provide  better  predictability,  reliability  and  service   to  passengers  and  improve  their  overall  experience  to  increase  ridership.   ANALYSIS  OF  POTENTIAL  VENDORS   As  in  any  growing  market,  there  are  multiple  companies  offering  products  and  services  for   transportation  management  or  optimization  purposes.  We  performed  extensive  research  on  existing   companies  and  their  offerings.  This  analysis  can  serve  as  a  tool  for  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  to  determine   which  company  might  best  fit  Hele-­‐On’s  requirements,  while  staying  within  the  County’s  budget  or   making  the  case  for  extra  funding  to  be  raised  via  public  or  private  investment.  Aside  from  economic   considerations,  an  ideal  vendor  should  be  able  to  provide  multiple  items  from  the  ‘Key  Technologies  for   Hele-­‐On’  listed  above  and  present  customizable  solutions.  Additional  value  will  come  from  firms  with   products  designed  specifically  for  public  transportation  systems  and  previous  experience  with  rural  or   island-­‐based  clients.   Figure  1-­‐8:  Potential  Companies  and  Their  Services     Company Services Automated  Passenger  Counting  (APC)Routing  and  Fleet  Efficiency  OptimizationOperator  and  Vehicle  PerformanceReal-­‐time  Passenger  Information  (RTPI)Mobile  Data  Terminals  (MDT)Has  Specific  Service  for  Public  Transport?Has  worked  on  Rural  or  Island  ProjectsActsoft x x NextBus x x Syncromatics x x x x x Teletrac x x x x x Trapeze x x x x x x x TSO  Mobile x x x x x x x   12  |  Page     As  shown  in  the  figure  above,  the  companies  reviewed  in  this  research  provide  a  wide  array  of  services,   and  finding  the  best  option  for  Hele-­‐On  to  implement  will  depend  on  the  costs  of  each  and  the   availability  of  resources  in  the  County  of  Hawai`i.  After  contacting  and  reviewing  these  companies,  we   determined  that  TSO  Mobile  offers  the  full  range  of  products  and  services  the  County  may  consider  and   has  experience  working  or  rural  systems  and  in  islands.  It  would  therefore  be  the  best  option  to  work   with,  even  though  the  investment  required  is  higher.     RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  IMPLEMENTING  TECHNOLOGY  SOLUTIONS   We  have  identified  three  different  stages  of  activities  and  investments  for  the  County  to  consider.  There   are  some  easy  and  low-­‐cost  solutions  that  we  recommend  should  be  implemented  right  away,  and  some   pricier  but  more  impactful  solutions  for  which  additional  funds  must  be  procured.   IMMEDIATE  SHORT  TERM   Ø Google  Transit:  Low  cost  option  with  easy  and  fast  implementation  that  can  help  passengers   identify  ideal  routes,  schedules,  and  connections.  It  will  be  necessary  to  develop  a   communication  strategy  to  let  users  know  of  its  availability  once  it  is  in  place.   Ø Website  enhancements  for  easier  navigation.   Ø Develop  clear  route  schedules  and  maps  that  can  be  seen  on  website  without  the  need  to   download  the  file.   SHORT  TO  MEDIUM  TERM   Ø Procure  funding  for  large  technology  investment.  Tentative  sources  include:  federal  grants,   private  impact  investment  opportunities,  environmental  or  social  Impact  foundations.   MEDIUM  TERM   Ø Make  large  technology  investment   o Determine  appropriate  vendor  and  obtain  a  customized  quotes   o Determine  new  staff  requirements  and  cost  (if  any)   o Set  project  manager  responsible  for  implementation   PRIVATE  INVESTMENTS  AND  TRANSPORTATION  ALTERNATIVES   We  recommend  that  Hawai`i  County  consider  partnering  with  private  enterprises  for  both  rideshare   and  vanpool.  As  fuel  costs  increase  and  government  funding  for  transportation  becomes  more   uncertain,  there  will  be  a  shifting  of  priorities  at  the  federal  and  state  level.  The  time  for  action  is  now:   energy  efficiency  and  peer-­‐to-­‐peer  ridesharing  have  come  to  the  forefront  of  transportation  energy   innovations  and  this  emergence  has  not  gone  unnoticed  at  the  state  level.  Private  solutions  in  vanpool   and  rideshare  could  reduce  the  burden  on  the  Mass  Transit  Agency,  while  providing  cost-­‐effective   realized  savings  for  both  short-­‐  and  long-­‐  distance  commuters.   RIDESHARE  NETWORKS   Peer-­‐to-­‐peer  ridesharing  occurs  when  passengers  use  mobile  applications  and  GPS  tracking  to  “find”   rides.  Ridesharing  is  increasingly  popular  at  universities  among  both  students  and  faculty,  as  well  as   among  middle-­‐income  commuters  who  would  otherwise  commute  alone.       13  |  Page     Despite  its  popularity,  we  are  skeptical  about  government  incentives  and  subsidies  like  the  Commuter   Tax  Benefits  Program,  the  Guaranteed  Ride  Home  Program  (GRHP)  and  Job  Access  Reverse  Commute   program  (JARC);  these  programs  may  not  necessarily  do  an  effective  job  of  enticing  ridesharing  due  to   state  priorities,  competition  with  more  populated  counties  which  spend  more  on  transportation,  the   actual  cost  of  allocating  money  to  the  island  for  these  programs,  and  the  general  lack  of  knowledge  of   said  opportunities.  We  are,  however,  hopeful  about  a  new  state  Car-­‐Sharing  Vehicle  Surcharge  Tax  bill  in   the  works  and  the  2007  Energy  Efficient  Transportation  Strategy  Act,  which  recognizes  and  sanctions   ridesharing  companies  as  legitimate  tax-­‐paying  entities,  reducing  the  economic  uncertainty  of  these   markets  while  setting  a  standard  for  administration  and  oversight  which  can  act  as  catalyst  for  further   expansion.  It  is  expected  that  the  future  implementation  of  ridesharing  networks  will  be  complementary   to  mass  transit  ridership  rather  than  competitive;  ridesharing  exists  to  address  unmet  demand  for   lower-­‐cost  travel  alternatives  for  middle-­‐income  and  more  affluent  commuters.   In  spite  of  our  concerns  with  public  policy,  the  private  sector  is  robust  with  a  rapidly  expanding  market   with  increasing  private  investment.  As  we  mentioned  previously,  carpooling  is  already  very  popular  on   Hawai`i  Island  and  has  the  potential  to  save  participants  money,  as  well  as  limit  the  consumption  of   gasoline  and  the  release  of  carbon  into  the  atmosphere.  For  long-­‐distance  commuting  a  driver  pays  an   average  of  $640/month  on  Hawai`i  Island.  That  cost  is  cut  almost  in  half  by  taking  on  one  additional   passenger  ($332.80  returned  to  the  driver),  and  fully  recovered  with  additional  profit  by  taking  on  two   or  three  passengers  (making  $25.60  or  $358.40  per  month  respectively).  For  shorter  distances,  the  gains   are  more  modest  –  the  $40/month  average  cost  of  gasoline  for  a  single  commuter  is  recovered  with  the   driver  earning  an  additional  $1.60  for  two  more  riders  and  $22.40  for  three  more  riders  (see  Appendix  G   for  cost  calculations).   Figure  1-­‐9        $(400.00)    $(200.00)    $-­‐          $200.00      $400.00      $600.00     City  Commute  Cross-­‐Island  Commute  Monthly  Cost  of  Travel  Distance  of  Commute   Carpool  Economics   Commute  Alone   Carpool  -­‐  2  people   Carpool  -­‐  3  people   Carpool  -­‐  4  people   Carpool  Rider   Public  Transit     14  |  Page     VANPOOL  NETWORKS   The  County  could  also  benefit  from  enhancing  private  vanpool  network  opportunities  for  all  residents,   where  users  pay  a  fee  to  cover  fuel  and  a  company  provides  vehicles.  Hawai`i  Island  is  an  ideal  place  to   utilize  this  type  of  service,  as  vanpools  are  particularly  effective  in  providing  long-­‐distance   transportation  between  work  and  residential  hubs.  In  fact,  the  privatized  VRide  system  is  already  in   place,  but  underutilized.  There  are  still  inherent  tradeoffs:  the  system  may  poach  from  mass  transit,   taking  away  lower-­‐income  commuters.  Additionally,  many  commuters  must  still  drive  to  reach  start   nodes.  Because  the  system  is  already  online,  the  County’s  largest  effort  should  be  focused  on  outreach   to  employers  and  commuters  and  educating  them  of  the  potential  subsidies  and  user  benefits  of   vanpool  commuting.  The  public  vanpool  system  (Vanpool  Hawai`i)  was  defunded  in  2011,  so  VRide   remains  the  only  viable  vanpool  option.   RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  ESTABLISHING  RIDESHARE  AND  VANPOOL  NETWORKS     There  are  three  major  steps  that  ensure  the  stability  of  vanpool  and  rideshare  private  networks  moving   forward:   Ø Engage  Public  Agencies  in  Developing  Sustainable  Transportation  Goals:  Ensure  better   coordination  between  departments  to  secure  future  funding;  conduct  outreach  to  commuters   to  educate  them  of  various  options;  hire  staff  to  liaise  between  business  interests  and   commuters;  oversee  rideshare/vanpool  programs.   Ø Support  the  Existing  Vanpool  System:  Immediately  encourage  users  to  sign  on  to  existing   vanpool  system.   Ø Understand  Public  Needs:  Develop  a  population  survey  that  reaches  a  broad  sample  of   commuters  and  employers  gauging  user  preferences,  as  well  as  their  current  knowledge  of   available  and  developing  commuting  alternatives.   If  the  County  wishes  to  proceed  specifically  with  creating  a  rideshare  network  on  Hawai`i  Island,  three   options  for  moving  forward  include:   Ø Send  out  a  Request  For  Proposal  (RFP)  to  existing  rideshare  Transportation  Network   Companies  (TNCs).  Traditionally,  TNC  expansion  in  the  past  has  been  limited  to  dense  urban   areas.  They  also  rely  more  on  private  investments  to  keep  them  afloat  and  expand  their  services   and  features.  Although  TNC’s  pay  for  themselves  (rather  than  through  public  agencies),  fierce   competition  both  intra-­‐market  and  inter-­‐market  (i.e.  taxi,  vanpools,  buses)  may  require  heavier   and  more  burdensome  regulation  by  the  already  understaffed  and  overworked  County.   Ø Establish  a  public-­‐private  partnership  (P3)  with  the  County  for  a  unique  regional  program.  In   this  situation  a  public  agency  subcontracts  to  a  third-­‐party  vendor  (Cubic,  Trapeze,  Rideshare)   for  a  ride  matching  platform,  marketing  &  outreach,  and  technical  guidance  and  operation.   Though  it  is  more  expensive  upfront  due  to  consulting  services  required,  this  kind  of  partnership   is  less  risky  and  capacity-­‐intensive  because  the  private  company  assumes  an  operational  role   and  some  financial  risk.  They  also  work  with  the  agency  to  find  external  funding  sources,  which   might  supplement  project  costs.  Ultimately,  the  private  entity  can  help  establish  a  more   individualized  network  uniquely  tailored  to  fit  the  Island’s  needs.  Because  this  arrangement  is   not  sensitive  to  potential  company  acquisitions,  buy-­‐outs  or  changes  in  structure  and  ownership   (as  is  frequent  with  emerging  TNCs  and  startups),  there  is  greater  long-­‐term  stability  in  a  P3   contract.     15  |  Page     Ø Establish  a  pilot  project  at  the  University  of  Hawai`i  –  Hilo.  A  University  project  partnership   with  either  an  existing  rideshare  network  or  another  third  party  vendor  to  test  ridesharing  on   Hawai`i  Island.  These  types  of  projects  have  taken  been  piloted  on  the  Mainland;  results  have   varied  depending  on  school  and  commuter  populations.   CONCLUSION   Despite  the  geographical  complexities  associated  with  island-­‐wide  transportation  connectivity  and   accessibility,  there  are  a  number  of  optimizing  cost-­‐effective  technological  innovations  available  both  in   public  transit  and  through  the  private  sector.  This  report  is  intended  to  evaluate  the  existing   transportation  alternatives  available  within  the  existing  administrative  framework  and  organizational   structure  in  order  to  provide  County  officials  with  the  most  comprehensive  information  in  weighing  their   options  moving  forward.  We  hope  these  recommendations  are  useful  and  salient  as  the  County   government  begins  to  develop  sustainable  transportation  planning  strategies  well  into  the  future.       16  |  Page     2:  PROJECT  OVERVIEW   INTRODUCTION   Residents  of  the  Hawai`i  Island  pay  some  of  the  highest  rates  for  electricity  and  petroleum  products   among  residents  of  the  United  States.  17  Moreover,  the  islands  in  the  Hawaiian  archipelago  rely  almost   entirely  on  imported  petroleum  fuels  for  both  transportation  and  energy  generation.18  Though  Hawai`i   Island  has  integrated  more  renewable  energy  onto  its  electrical  grid  than  anywhere  else  in  the  U.S.,19   the  reliance  on  fossil  fuel  remains  high  because  more  than  half  the  energy  demand  of  the  island  can  be   attributed  to  transportation  of  said  commodities.20   This  project  has  been  undertaken  to  understand  the  current  transportation  situation  on  the  island  and   offer  suggestions  that  will  improve  accessibility  for  the  island’s  residents,  while  decreasing  fossil  fuel   dependence  and  promoting  more  energy  efficient  options  for  commuting  and  transit.  We  chose  this   focus  because  ground  transportation  is  particularly  energy  intensive  on  Hawai`i  Island  due  to  a  reliance   on  a  large  energy  inefficient  fleet  of  personal  vehicles.21     On  Hawai`i  Island  the  vast  majority  of  residents  (69%)  choose  to  commute  alone  via  personal  vehicles   like  cars,  trucks  and  vans,  while  only  2%  of  commuters  choose  public  transit  to  get  to  work.22  The   remainder  of  the  workforce  either  carpools  to  work  or  works  from  home.23  Traditional  mass  transit   systems  can  be  used  to  increase  energy  efficiency,  as  well  as  energy  sustainability;  as  a  result  we  have   designed  this  project  to  explore  the  need  for  improvements  to  this  system.  We  will  develop  suggestions   for  optimizing  the  current  system,  as  well  as  potential  alternatives  that  include  the  establishment  of   carpooling  and  ridesharing  networks  that  would  decrease  the  number  of  private  vehicles  trips  used  and   thus  fuel  consumption.   PROJECT  OBJECTIVES   The  University  of  Michigan  team  was  engaged  by  The  Kohala  Center  to  examine  and  analyze  the  public   transit  system  of  Hawai`i  Island.  The  primary  objective  of  the  project  is  to  develop  a  set  of   recommendations  for  public  and  private  investments  focused  on  high-­‐impact  solutions  to  reduce  fossil   fuel  use  in  the  island’s  ground  transportation  system,  while  improving  accessibility  and  lowering  travel   times.  The  plan  recommendations  include:   • Consolidating  and  analyzing  the  data  collected  by  the  County  of  Hawai'i  on  their  transportation   infrastructure  and  public  transit  system;   • Ensuring  an  inclusive  process  by  engaging  a  diverse  set  of  stakeholders  on  Hawai`i  Island  to   understand  and  communicate  their  needs  and  experiences;   • Providing  a  number  of  technological,  business  and  infrastructure  solutions  for  the  issues   identified  by  the  project  stakeholders;   Please  see  Appendix  A  for  more  details  on  our  project  plan  and  hypotheses.       17  |  Page     OVERVIEW  OF  STAKEHOLDERS   The  primary  goal  of  our  August  2013  trip  to  Hawai`i  Island  was  to  meet  and  engage  with  the  groups  and   people  working  on  a  variety  of  issues  related  our  own  project.  This  section  outlines  those  stakeholders.   Residents  of  Hawai`i  Island   • Urban  Residents  of  Hilo  and  Waimea     • Residents  living  outside  the  urban  centers  of  Hilo  or  Waimea  in  dispersed  communities   • Residents  and  visitors  of  the  Kona-­‐Kohala  Coast   Government  Agencies  and  Officials   Our  group  was  fortunate  enough  to  meet  with  representatives  of  the  Mass  Transit  Authority,  Office  of   the  Mayor,  Department  of  Research  and  Development,  Department  of  Planning,  as  well  as  the  County’s   Energy  Coordinator.     NGOs  and  other  community  groups   • The  Kohala  Center   • The  Ulupono  Initiative     • Peoples  Advocacy  for  Trails  Hawai`i  (PATH)   • Hawai`i  County  Economic  Opportunity  Council   • UH  Hilo  Student  Association  Sustainability  Committee   Businesses  and  business  interests   We  spoke  with  representatives  of  various  business  associations  on  Hawai`i  Island,  including  Hawai`i   Island  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  the  Kohala  Coast  Resort  Association.       18  |  Page     3:  GROUND  TRANSPORTATION  ON   HAWAI`I  ISLAND  AND  OTHER  RURAL   LOCALITIES       RURAL  TRANSIT  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES   According  to  the  American  Community  Survey  (ACS),  rural  areas  are  defined  by  their  small  populations,   low-­‐population  density,  and  geographic  isolation.24  About  75  million  or  25%  of  the  US  population,   including  many  residents  of  Hawai`i  County,  lives  in  rural  parts  of  the  country,  many  of  whom  are  heavily   reliant  on  automobiles  for  transportation.25  Developing  and  maintaining  rural  transit  networks  to  serve   these  populations  is  a  daunting  prospect,  but  can  reap  rewards  through  the  improvements  to  quality  of   life,  the  environment,  and  cost  of  living.  According  to  the  AARP,  public  transit  is  key  to  helping  older   individuals  remain  independent  and  active  and  important  in  providing  access  to  health  care,  social   services  and  employment.26   CHARACTERISTICS  OF  RURAL  POPULATIONS   The  US  Census  and  ACS  data  is  helpful  in  understanding  the  characteristics  of  rural  population  that   distinguish  them  from  urban  and  suburban  populations  and  require  special  consideration  when   providing  services  like  transportation.  Generally,  U.S.  rural  populations:27   • Have  a  higher  median  income  than  urban  populations  as  urban  populations  have  more   individuals  living  under  the  poverty  line.  (This  income  disparity  is  reversed  in  Hawai`i,  as  the   urban  populations,  like  Honolulu  have  a  higher  median  income  than  rural  Hawai`i.);   • Have  a  higher  median  age  than  urban  populations;   • Are  less  likely  to  move  and  when  they  do  move  they  are  less  likely  to  move  long  distances;   • Are  more  likely  to  own  a  car  and  to  use  that  car  for  commuting;   • Are  more  likely  to  have  a  longer  commute  than  urban  populations.   These  characteristics  suggest  that  rural  transit  systems  must  be  designed  to  serve  older  residents  and   residents  who  are  used  to  having  the  flexibility  of  using  their  own  vehicles  and  commute  slightly  longer   distances.     In  terms  of  transit  itself,  rural  residents  are  less  likely  to  have  access  to  public  transit  amenities.   According  to  the  2011  Transit  and  Community  Livability  Report  produced  by  Ripplinger,  Ndembe,  and   Hough  at  North  Dakota  State  University,  only  13-­‐22%  of  people  living  in  rural  areas  have  access  to  public   transit,  compared  to  57%  of  the  national  population.  They  are  also  more  likely  to  have  longer  commutes   to  reach  public  transit,  averaging  more  than  8  minutes  to  the  6-­‐minute  national  average.28       19  |  Page     RURAL  TRANSIT  PROVIDERS   According  to  the  Rural  National  Transit  Database,  in  2011  there  were  1,392  Rural  Transit  Providers   serving  2,410  counties  across  the  United  States.29  These  providers  offered  a  variety  of  types  of  service,   including  fixed-­‐route,  demand-­‐response,  ferries,  commuter  buses,  vanpools  and  various  combinations  of   those  modes  of  transportation,  demonstrating  that  rural  transit  is  not  a  “one  size  fits  all”  situation.     On  average,  fleet  sizes  have  been  increasing  over  the  last  few  years,  up  from  14.3  vehicles  per  agency  in   2007  to  16.6  vehicles  per  agency  in  2011.30    Rural  transit  relies  on  a  number  of  types  of  vehicles,  with   the  most  popular  being  the  Cutaway,  a  small  adaptable  bus  or  van.  This  is  likely  because  Cutaways  are   easy  to  customize  and  are  more  practical  for  serving  smaller  rural  populations,  as  on  average  they  can   seat  14.9  people.31   Rural  transit  systems  experienced  growing  ridership,  with  an  increase  from  120.9  million  rides  in  2010  to   122.6  million  rides  in  2011  or  about  1%.32  Reviewing  the  data  more  closely,  however,  we  see  that  there   is  not  an  even  gain  across  all  rural  transit  networks.  Only  61%  of  transit  providers,  including  the  Mass   Transit  Authority  of  Hawai`i  County,  saw  an  increase  in  ridership,  with  36%  seeing  an  increase  of  20%  or   more.  On  the  other  hand,  28%  saw  a  decrease  of  at  least  5%  and  12%  saw  a  decrease  of  at  least  20%.33         There  are  federal  tax  subsidies  that  can  be  realized  by  the  employer  or  employee,  or  both,  by  using   public  transit  for  commuting  under  the  Commuter  Tax  Benefits  program.  The  current  limit  is   $130/month  per  employee,  but  it  recently  dropped  to  this  level  from  $245/month  after  Congress  failed   to  renew  the  tax  credit  before  January  1,  so  there  is  a  possibility  that  the  limit  will  be  increased  again.34   These  are  tax  savings  that  are  realized  through  accounting  procedures,  and  details  on  the  process  can  be   found  at  the  IRS  website.35  If  employers  were  not  interested  in  working  through  the  process  themselves,   they  could  use  outside  help  in  the  form  of  a  third-­‐party  agency,  such  as  WageWorks,  or  an  accounting   firm.36  While  it  likely  would  not  result  in  hugely  significant  savings,  increasing  participation  in  the   program  would  reduce  the  cost  of  using  public  transit  for  the  people  of  Hawai`i  Island  without  reducing   revenues  realized  by  Hele-­‐On.   CHALLENGES  FOR  RURAL  TRANSIT  SERVICE  PROVIDERS   Rural  Transit  Service  Providers  face  a  number  of  challenges  in  delivering  high  quality,  convenient  and   cost-­‐effective  transit  options  for  their  clientele.  Generally  they  are  being  asked  to  serve  a  large  area  with   a  dispersed  population  with  a  limited  budget..  Service  providers  must  optimize  their  systems  to  cover   long  distances  and  occasionally  difficult  terrain.37  They  must  rely  on  a  variety  of  fleet  vehicles,  causing   the  need  for  more  administrative  capacity,  operational  and  maintenance  knowledge,  and  general   coordination.     Providers  have  three  models  for  transporting  populations.  They  can  offer  fixed  route  transportation  that   serves  a  pre-­‐set  route  on  a  particular  schedule.  They  can  also  provide  demand  response  service  that   employs  a  fleet  of  vehicles  to  pick  users  up  at  a  requested  time  and  location.  The  last  option  is  a  hybrid   of  the  other  two  systems.  This  means  that  a  vehicle  will  follow  a  prescribed  route  only  when  users   request  it.  Rural  service  providers  are  serving  a  relatively  isolated  population  with  intermittent  demand.     20  |  Page     It  can  be  time-­‐consuming  and  inconvenient  for  the  users  to  use  a  fixed  route  system.  A  demand   response  system  is  flexible  and  adaptable,  but  can  be  extremely  expensive  to  maintain.     HAWAI`I  COUNTY  GROUND  TRANSPORTATION   TRANSPORTATION  INFRASTRUCTURE   Hawai`i  Island  is  the  size  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  and  consists  of  five  volcanoes,  three  of  which  are   still  somewhat  active.38  Its  size,  unique  geography,  and  propensity  for  earthquakes,  volcanic  eruptions   and  tsunamis  make  it  a  challenge  for  developing  a  transportation  infrastructure.  The  island  had  a   number  of  railroads  from  the  1800s  through  1940s  to  transport  sugar  and  other  agricultural  goods  for   export,  passengers  from  Hilo  up  to  Waimea,  and  even  tourists  to  the  Hamakua  Coast.  These  railroads   were  extremely  expensive  to  build  and  maintain  and  were  sold  off  by  the  Hawai`i  Consolidated  Railroad   after  the  destructive  tsunami  of  1946.  The  rights-­‐of-­‐way,  tracks  and  remaining  bridges,  trestles  and   tunnels  were  eventually  bought  by  the  Territory  of  Hawai`i  and  became  the  routes  for  the  current   highway  system.39      Currently  Hawai`i  Island  is  served  by  a   few  major  two-­‐lane  highways  that   transport  residents  from  one  side  of  the   island  to  the  other.  Hawai`i  Belt  Road   (Highway  19)  is  a  major  route  from  Hilo  to   Kailua-­‐Kona  and  it  takes  a  driver   approximately  2  hours,  or  95  miles.40  This   is  the  road  preferred  by  the  Mass  Transit   Agency  because  it  circumnavigates  the   volcano  peaks  and  the  population  lives   along  this  road  making  pick-­‐ups  ideal.41   The  other  option  for  this  trip  is  the  newly   opened  Daniel  K.  Inouye  Highway,  which   completed  the  realignment  and  widening   of  this  route,  passing  between  Mauna  Kea   and  Mauna  Loa  and  connecting  the   existing  Saddle  Road  (Highway  200)  to   Mamalahoa  Highway.42  This  route  is   approximately  78  miles  long  and  will  take   drivers  1  hour  and  40  minutes  to  traverse.43     Hawai`i  Belt  Road  also  continues  south  from  Kailua-­‐Kona  as  Highway  11.    This  road  travels  down  the   Kona  coast  to  the  most  southern  point  on  the  island  in  Ka`u,  then  northeast  past  the  Kilauea  Crater,   Puna  and  arrives  in  Hilo  125  miles  and  almost  3  hours  later.44  This  route  is  likely  popular  with  tourists   visiting  Hawai`i  Volcanoes  National  Park.  Puna  is  served  by  Highways  130,  132,  and  137,  though  parts  of   Highway  130  have  been  buried  under  the  current  eruption  from  the  Pu`u  `  O`o  vent.45     HAWAI`I  ISLAND   Figure  3-­‐1:  Road  Map  of  Hawai'i  Island     21  |  Page     CHARACTERISTICS  OF  HAWAI`I  COUNTY  COMMUTERS   Residents  of  Hawai`i  Island  face  many  of  the  same  transit  challenges  as  other  rural  populations,  though   their  characteristics  are  slightly  different  than  those  of  the  average  rural  commuter  on  the  mainland.   The  following  graphs  detail  the  trends  and  characteristics  of  Hawai`i  commuters  and  were  created  from   data  gathered  during  the  2012  American  Community  Survey.   COMMUTER  TYPES   Hawai`i  Island  residents  primarily  choose  to  commute  to  work  by  personal  automobile  (cars,  trucks  and   vans).  While  most  commute  alone,  about  15%  participate  in  carpooling  to  get  work.  Less  than  2%  of  the   population  takes  public  transit  to  get  to  work.  Compared  to  the  United  States  as  a  whole,  carpooling  is   more  frequent  on  Hawai`i  Island.  While  the  majority  of  residents  of  Hawai`i  County  commute  using  an   individual  personal  vehicle,  14.5%  carpool  to  work,  50%  above  the  national  average  for  carpooling  in   rural  areas.  Fewer  residents  of  Hawai`i  County  commute  using  public  transit  than  other  transit  options,   but  the  level  is  almost  three  times  the  national  average  for  other  rural  areas.  In  general  comparing   Hawai`i  County  to  other  rural  populations,  fewer  residents  of  the  county  use  personal  vehicles  to  get  to   work,  while  more  carpool  and  take  public  transit.     Table  3-­‐1:  Modes  of  Commuting      United   States   Rural  Hawai'i  County  Maui  County   Mode  Used     Commuting   alone     76.4%  81.4%  72.7%  68.4%   Carpooling  9.8%  9.9%  14.5%  14,9%   Public  Transit  5.0%  0.6%  1.7%  2.3%   Other  8.8%  8.1%  11.1%  14.9%     Data from American Community Survey         22  |  Page     INCOME   Compared  to  the  rest  of  the  United  States  and  other  rural  populations,  residents  of  Hawai’i  County   generally  earn  less  income  Figure  3-­‐2  below  shows  that  those  who  commuted  alone  using  their  own   personal  vehicle  on  the  whole  earned  more  than  those  who  carpooled  or  used  public  transit.   Interestingly,  in  Hawai`i  County  public  transit  commuters  had  a  much  lower  median  earnings  level.  They   only  earned  $16k,  while  those  that  commuted  alone  or  via  carpool  earned  almost  twice  that  amount.   This  suggests  that  lower  income  commuters,  who  do  not  have  access  to  or  cannot  afford  a  personal   vehicle,  are  the  predominant  user  of  the  public  transit  system  on  Hawai`i  Island.     Figure  3-­‐2               Total  Commujng   Alone  Carpooling  Public   Transit   United  States  $32,417    $35,132    $26,013    $30,950     Rural  $31,653    $32,287    $27,690    $31,920     Hawai'i  County  $29,492    $30,393    $27,714    $16,343      $-­‐          $5,000      $10,000      $15,000      $20,000      $25,000      $30,000      $35,000      $40,000    Earnings  Per  Capita  Hawai'i  County  Median  Earning     23  |  Page     OCCUPATIONS   The  workforce  of  Hawai`i  Island  is  relatively  evenly  dispersed  between  management-­‐level,  service  and   sales/office  jobs.  Sorting  these  occupations  by  commute  type  shows  that  those  who  commute  alone  and   carpool  have  a  similar  breakdown  to  the  island  as  a  whole.  Public  transit  commuters,  however,  are   predominantly  service,  construction  and  maintenance  workers,  suggesting  that  a  majority  of  bus  users   likely  fall  in  the  lower-­‐income  brackets.   Figure  3-­‐3           0%   10%   20%   30%   40%   50%   60%   70%   80%   90%   100%   Total  Commujng   Alone   Carpooling  Public  Transit   Hawai'i  County  Occupagons     Military   Producjon  and  Transportajon   Construcjon  and  Maintenance   Sales  and  Office   Service   Management     24  |  Page     INDUSTRY   Overall  Hawai`i  County  residents  tend  to  work  in  three  key  industries:  Retail  Trade,  Social  Services   (Education,  Healthcare,  etc.)  and  Hospitality.  Public  transit  commuters,  however,  are  much  more  likely   to  work  in  the  Agriculture  and  Hospitality  industries.  Traditionally  these  are  lower-­‐wage  industries  and   data  is  again  consistent  with  the  theory  that  public  transit  users  are  low-­‐income  and  may  use  the  system   because  it  offers  a  more  a  cost-­‐effective  commuting  option  compared  to  the  cost  of  vehicle  ownership   along  with  high  gas  prices.   Figure  3-­‐4       0%   10%   20%   30%   40%   50%   60%   70%   80%   90%   100%   Total  Commujng   Alone   Carpooling  Public  Transit   Hawai'i  County  Industries   Military   Public  Administrajon   Other   Recreajon/  Food/   Accomodajon   Educajon/  Healthcare/   Social   Management   Real  estate/  Finance/   Insurance   Transportajon/  Ujlijes   Retail  trade   Wholesale  trade   Manufacturing   Construcjon   Agriculture     25  |  Page     VEHICLE  AVAILABILITY   Unlike  the  rest  of  the  United  States,  virtually  all  of  the  residents  of  Hawai`i  County  have  access  to  a  car.   Similar  to  other  rural  populations,  fewer  than  2%  of  residents  of  the  county  have  no  vehicle  access,   illustrating  their  extreme  reliance  on  personal  vehicles  for  transportation.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that   the  data  collected  by  the  ACS  indicates  that  most  if  not  all  of  the  public  transit  commuters  also  own  a   vehicle.  This  is  very  different  from  the  United  States  on  a  whole;  the  countrywide  data  shows  that  37%   of  public  transit  commuters  have  no  vehicle  available  for  their  use.  This  suggests  that  public  transit   commuters  on  Hawai`i  choose  to  travel  this  way  for  reasons  other  than  simple  vehicle  availability.       Figure  3-­‐5           Total  Commujng   Alone  Carpooling  Public  Transit      3  or  more  vehicles  available  35.9%  37.4%  36.8%  33.7%      2  vehicles  available  40.8%  42.1%  36.6%  44.2%      1  vehicle  available  21.8%  19.4%  25.8%  22.1%      No  vehicle  available  1.5%  1.2%  0.7%  0.0%   0%   10%   20%   30%   40%   50%   60%   70%   80%   90%   100%   County  of  Hawai'i  Vehicle  Availability     26  |  Page     COMMUTING  TIME   The  chart  below  shows  average  commute  lengths  for  the  different  types  of  commuters  of  Hawai`i  Island.   Among  all  the  residents  of  the  island,  the  average  time  it  takes  to  commute  to  work  is  between  25  and   30  minutes.  This  is  consistent  with  the  data  from  the  United  States  and  the  rural  areas  of  the  United   States.  Public  transit  commutes  in  the  United  States  tend  to  be  longer  than  solo  and  carpool  commutes   with  the  average  of  48  minutes.  Rural  areas  have  slightly  longer  public  transit  commutes  (50  minutes),   while  Hawai`i  Island  is  substantially  longer  at  68  minutes.  In  fact,  more  than  50%  of  public  transit   commuters  on  the  island  have  a  commute  of  60  minutes  or  longer  and  almost  75%  have  a  commute  of   45  minutes  or  longer.     Figure  3-­‐6          -­‐          10.00      20.00      30.00      40.00      50.00      60.00      70.00      80.00     0%   10%   20%   30%   40%   50%   60%   70%   80%   90%   100%   Total  Commujng   Alone   Carpooling  Public  Transit   Hawai'i  County  Commute  Length      60  or  more  minutes      45  to  59  minutes      30  to  44  minutes      20  to  29  minutes      10  to  19  minutes      Less  than  10  minutes      Mean  travel  jme  to  work   (minutes)     27  |  Page     HAWAI`I  COUNTY  MASS  TRANSIT  AGENCY   The  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  began  collecting  ridership  data  again  in  2005  and  currently   delivers  public  transportation  with  its  Hele-­‐On  bus  service  and  shared  taxi  program.46  The  Hele-­‐On  bus   offers  16  route  options  that  range  from  intra-­‐city  (i.e.  Kona  and  Hilo)  to  inter-­‐city  (i.e.  Hilo  to  Waimea)  to   trans-­‐island  (i.e.  Hilo  to  Kohala  resorts).  The  fare  for  riding  the  bus  has  recently  increased  (as  of  July  1,   2013)  from  $1.00  to  $2.00  per  ride  and  from  free  to  $1.00  for  students,  disabled  individuals  and   seniors.47  The  shared  taxi  program  offers  door-­‐to-­‐door  taxi  service  within  Hilo  and  Kona  for  between   $2.00-­‐3.00  for  trips  fewer  than  four  miles  and  between  $6.00-­‐9.00  for  trips  fewer  than  nine  miles.  The   agency  is  funded  by  the  local  and  federal  governments,  but  receives  no  state  funding  for  their   operations.48     As  of  2011  the  agency  had  a  staff  of  seven  full-­‐time  equivalent  employees.49  According  to  the  Mass   Transit  Administrator,  the  agency  has  hired  a  new  transit  assistant,  account  clerk,  and  mechanic  and  will   be  adding  an  additional  mechanic  in  the  first  quarter  of  2014  to  meet  the  increasing  demand  for  service,   particularly  in  fast-­‐growing  areas  like  Puna.50     Figure  3-­‐7     Ridership  has  been  gradually  increasing  since  the  service  began.  According  the  most  recent  available   Comprehensive  Fiscal  Report  produced  by  Hawai`i  County  for  the  Fiscal  Year  ending  on  June  30,  2011,   the  ridership  surpassed  1  million  passengers  in  2010  and  reached  approximately  1.15  million  in  2011.51   As  of  2011,  the  agency  owned  a  fleet  of  56  vehicles  to  serve  these  riders.    These  vehicles  ranged  in  size    -­‐          0.2      0.4      0.6      0.8      1.0      1.2      1.4     2006  2007  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  Millions  of  Passengers  Year   Hawaii  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  Ridership     28  |  Page     from  a  43-­‐foot  double-­‐decker  bus  with  a  seating  capacity  of  89  people  to  40-­‐foot  buses  with  seating   capacities  of  45-­‐49  people  to  minibuses  with  a  capacity  of  20-­‐32  people  to  minivans  with  a  capacity  of   10  people.52   ANALYSIS  OF  THE  MASS  TRANSIT  AGENCY   In  order  to  provide  the  most  useful  suggestions  to  help  to  Mass  Transit  Agency  achieve  its  goals  of   providing  transportation  to  those  who  desire  it,  we  completed  a  SWOT  analysis  to  identify  the  strengths,   weaknesses,  opportunities,  and  threats  to  the  Island’s  transit  agency.  This  framework  acted  as  a  guide   for  the  analysis  phase  of  this  project  and  helped  us  focus  our  recommendations  on  those  that  are   feasible  and  implementable.     Figure  3-­‐8:  Hawai'i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  SWOT  Analysis     Helpful  Harmful  Internal  STRENGTHS  WEAKNESSES   •  Many  routes  are  available  and  cross  the  island.   •  Trans-­‐island  commuter  routes  are  popular  and   used  extensively.   •  New  staff  joining  the  agency  in  Fall  2013,  more   capacity.   •  New  administrator,  who  is  interested  in   optimizing  the  current  system  and  increasing   services  available.   •  County  officials  are  engaged  in  the  project  and   support  innovative  solutions.   •  County  government  is  committed  to  improving   quality  of  life  for  residents  of  the  island.   •  The  Transit  Agency  does  not  employ  technology  to   track  ridership  or  optimize  its  current  route  and   schedule  planning.   •  Communications  and  knowledge  sharing  about   transit  routes  is  limited.   •  There  is  a  funding  gap  between  the  cost  of  service   and  the  revenue  received  from  providing  service.  External  OPPORTUNITIES  THREATS   •  Many  new  cost-­‐effective  technologies  are   available  to  help  optimize  Hawai’i  Island’s  current   system.   •  New  businesses  are  in  development  on  the   mainland  and  the  other  Hawaiian  Islands  that   could  partner  with  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  to   provide  other  types  of  services.   •  Many  groups  on  the  island  can  share   knowledge  and  ideas  to  help  the  Mass  Transit   Agency  achieve  its  goals.   •  There  are  a  number  of  businesses  and  students   at  the  UH-­‐Hilo  to  participate  in  pilot  programs.         •  Mass  transit  must  serve  very  large  county  with  a   dispersed  population.   •  Island  geography  makes  creating  new   infrastructure  infeasible  or  cost-­‐prohibitive.     •  Residents  are  reliant  on  their  cars  and  it  may  be   hard  to  convince  them  to  use  public  transit  instead.     •  Federal  funding  sources  are  beholden  to  political   forces  in  Washington,  DC.           29  |  Page     MAPPING  TRANSIT  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND     Because  transit  systems  are  tied  so  profoundly  to  the  geography,  our  team  analyzed  existing  available   GIS,  Census,  County  of  Hawai`i  and  other  data  to  understand  the  unique  transit  patterns  and  other   interactions  between  the  people  and  places  on  the  island.  We  created  maps  of  bus  routes,  work  hubs,   recreation  hubs  and  population  density  to  illustrate  these  unique  patterns.   ANALYSIS  OF  MAPS   POPULATION  DENSITY   The  population  density  map  in  Figure  3-­‐9  shows  that  population  is  clustered  around  the  perimeter  of  the   island  at  major  towns  including  Hilo,  Keaau,  Mt.  View,  Pahoa,  Ocean  View,  Kealakekua,  Keauhou,  Kailua-­‐ Kona,  Waikoloa,  Waimea  and  Hawi.       Figure  3-­‐9           30  |  Page     BUS  ROUTES     Figure  3-­‐10  displays  the  current  bus  routes  on  Hawai`i  Island.  The  map  in  Figure  3-­‐11  compares  the  bus   route  coverage  with  the  population  density  on  the  island.  Population  density  can  indicate  the  transit   need  of  the  corresponding  areas.  The  higher  the  density,  the  more  transportation  services  are  needed.   Bus  route  coverage  roughly  represents  transportation  accessibility.  The  more  bus  routes  covered  in  an   area,  the  better  the  possibility  that  the  mass  transit  system  fulfills  the  transit  requirements  of  residents.   However,  different  bus  routes  could  have  different  bus  frequencies,  and  different  buses  could  have   different  capacities.  These  factors  make  a  comprehensive  analysis  of  transportation  accessibility  nearly   impossible  based  on  the  existing  data.  Nevertheless,  the  following  table  regarding  bus  frequency  can   hopefully  provide  supporting  information  to  the  map.   Table  3-­‐2:  Bus  Frequency  for  Each  Route  53   Bus  Routes  Buses  Per  Day   Downtown/Ainako/Kaumana  11   Downtown  Hilo/Aupuni   Center/Prince  Kuhio  Plaza  49   Mooheau/Keaukaha  17   Downtown/Waiakea-­‐Uka  10   Hilo/South  Kohala  Resorts  12   Honokaa/Hilo  26   Ka‘ū/Volcano/Hilo  10   Kona/Hilo  12   Intra-­‐Kona  20   North  Kohala/South  Kohala  2   North  Kohala/Waimea/Kailua-­‐Kona  2   Pahala/Kona/South  Kohala  6   Pohoiki/Pahoa/Hilo  22   Kamuela  Lakeland/Kamuela  View  Est  22   Waimea/Hilo  21   Waikoloa  Village  16     We  overlaid  the  bus  route  layer  and  the  population  density  layer  to  roughly  indicate  whether  the   regions  that  require  more  transit  frequency  -­‐  actually  have  enough  transportation  accessibility.  If  an   area  has  a  high  population  density  and  requires  more  transit  frequency  but  has  limited  bus  route   coverage,  that  area  would  be  worth  further  studying  to  determine  if  the  current  mass  transit  system   providing  sufficient  service  to  the  area.  Analysis  of  bus  route  coverage  relative  to  work  hubs  and   recreational  hubs  are  carried  out  in  the  following  paragraphs  with  the  same  objective.     31  |  Page     Hele-­‐On  Double  Decker  Bus  (source:  hawaiicountymayor.com)     Table  3-­‐3  quantifies  the  number  of  routes  serving  each  of  the  most  densely  populated  areas.  Hilo  and   Kailua-­‐Kona  are  two  of  the  most-­‐served  areas  with  four  routes  within  Hilo,  six  routes  to  or  from  Hilo  and   four  routes  to  or  from  Kailua-­‐Kona.  However,  areas  around  Mountain  View  and  Pahoa  are  only  covered   by  one  bus  route.       Table  3-­‐3:  Bus  Route  Coverage  Compared  to  Population  Density   Area  Hilo  Keaau  Mt.  View  Pahoa  Ocean  View   Bus  route  coverage  >  8  3  1  1  2   Area  Kealakekua  Keauhou  Kailua-­‐Kona  Waikoloa  Hawi   Bus  route  coverage  3  4  4  2  2           32  |  Page     Figure  3-­‐10       33  |  Page         Figure  3-­‐11     34  |  Page     The  map  in  Figure  3-­‐12  compares  the  bus  routes  with  recreation  site  density.  Hot  spots  for  recreation   are  around  Hilo,  Pahala,  Honaunau,  Kailua-­‐Kona,  Kawaihae,  Mahukona,  Honokaa  and  Honomu.  Their   bus  route  coverage  is  shown  accordingly  below.  It  is  worth  noting  that  Pahala  is  only  covered  by  one  bus   route.  Mauna  Kea  State  Park,  a  very  popular  attraction,54  is  completely  out  of  bus  coverage  because  it  is   on  Saddle  Road,  which  lacks  bus  routes.     Table  3-­‐4:  Bus  Route  Coverage  Compared  to  Recreation  Areas   Recreation  Area  Hilo  Pahala  Honaunau  Kailua-­‐Kona   Bus  route  coverage  >  8  1  3  4   Recreation  Area  Kawaihae  Mahukona  Honakaa  Honomu   Bus  route  coverage  3  2  4  4   It  is  important  to  note  that  the  map  of  recreational  hubs  simply  shows  location  of  recreational  sites.  An   analysis  of  the  density  of  visitation  would  be  more  informative,  but  we  are  not  able  to  get  visitation  data   from  recreation  sites  other  than  federal-­‐level  and  state-­‐level  sites.  The  visitation  data  we  have  is   presented  below.  All  of  the  federal  site  data  is  actual  2013  data  from  the  U.S.  National  Park  Service.  55   The  state  park  data  is  from  the  2007  Hawai`i  State  Parks  Survey.  56  The  Survey  estimates  visitation  data   with  its  own  methodology.  Obviously  it  is  not  ideal  to  use  estimated  data  and  data  from  separate  years,   but  this  should  at  least  provide  some  context  for  the  map  of  recreational  hubs  since  the  federal-­‐level   and  state-­‐level  recreation  sites  are  labeled  on  the  map.   Table  3-­‐5:  Annual  Visitation  of  Federal  and  State  Recreation  Sites  on  Hawai`i  Island   Federal  and  State  Recreation  Sites  Annual  Visitations   Hawai`i  Volcanoes  National  Park  1,583,209 Hapuna  Beach  State  Recreation  Area  514,300 Puʻuhonua  o  Hōnaunau  National  Historical  Park  363,282 Kekaha  Kai  State  Park  235,700 Old  Kona  Airport  State  Recreation  Area  217,000 Wailuku  River  State  Park  211,200 ‘Akaka  Falls  State  Park  189,400 Kaloko-­‐Honokohau  National  Historical  Park  158,124 Kealakekua  Bay  State  Historical  Park  155,900 Wailoa  River  State  Park  155,400 Puukohola  Heiau  National  Historic  Site  125,645 Kiholo  State  Park  Reserve  76,300 Mauna  Kea  State  Recreation  Park  64,600 Lava  Tree  State  Monument  44,400 Lapakahi  State  Historical  Park  30,600 Manuka  State  Wayside  Park  25,900 keolonahihi  State  Park  22,300 MacKenzie  State  Wayside  11,900 Kohala  Historical  Sites  9,800 Kalopa  State  Recreation  Area  5,500     35  |  Page       Figure  3-­‐12     36  |  Page     The  map  in  Figure  3-­‐13  shows  bus  routes  compared  to  density  of  businesses  within  a  given  area.  A  large   number  of  businesses  are  centered  in  and  around  Hilo,  which  is  covered  by  more  than  eight  bus  routes   and  Kailua-­‐Kona,  which  is  covered  by  four  bus  routes.   Hawai`i  Island  has  two  primary  airports,  Hilo  International  Airport  (ITO)  and  Kona  International  Airport   at  Keahole  (KOA).  These  two  airports  serve  as  major  hubs  for  arrival  to  and  departure  from  Hawai`i   Island.  According  to  the  Federal  Aviation  Administration  (FAA),  the  enplanements  (passenger  boardings)   of  ITO  and  KOA  in  2012  were  641,904  and  1,367,091  respectively.57  Given  the  amount  of  passengers,  it  is   necessary  to  study  the  public  transit  connectivity  of  the  airports.     Currently,  ITO  is  not  covered  by  the  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  Hele-­‐On  bus  service.  KOA  is   covered  by  two  bus  routes,  which  are  the  Intra  Kona  route  and  the  Pahala/Kona/South  Kohala  route,   but  the  number  of  buses  involved  is  limited.  These  two  routes  each  have  only  one  bus  going  to  KOA  at   8:20  a.m.  and  two  buses  leaving  from  KOA  at  8:30  a.m.  and  4:50  p.m.  every  Monday  to  Saturday.58  Apart   from  the  very  limited  bus  service,  the  airports  are  also  accessible  by  car,  taxi  and  shuttle.59  60  The   alternative  transportation  approaches,  however,  have  smaller  capacity  and  are  often  more  expensive.   As  a  result,  we  think  increasing  Hele-­‐On  bus  connectivity  to  the  two  primary  airports  should  be   considered  in  future  bus  route  planning.   As  a  result  of  the  analysis,  we  can  see  that  the  current  mass  transit  system  serves  key  areas  of  the  island,   especially  business  hubs,  in  terms  of  number  of  routes,  but  we  cannot  tell  if  those  routes  run  frequently   enough  to  meet  demand.  Overall,  most  recreation  hubs  and  population  clusters  are  served  by  multiple   bus  routes,  except  that  Mauna  Kea  State  Park  is  not  accessible  by  bus,  and  Mountain  View,  Pahoa  and   Pahala  are  all  only  covered  by  one  bus  route.  The  bus  route  connectivity  to  the  two  major  airports  is   limited  as  well.  These  findings  are  one  important  factor  for  evaluating  overall  network  efficiency.  Other   considerations  should  include  redundancy  in  routes,  scheduling,  and  demand  for  inter-­‐town  and  intra-­‐ town  service.  We  examine  technologies  available  for  gathering  data  on  these  considerations  in  the   OPTIMIZING  PUBLIC  TRANSIT  WITH  TECHNOLOGY  SOLUTIONS  section  starting  on  page  47.     Figure  3-­‐12     37  |  Page         Figure  3-­‐13     38  |  Page     LIMITATIONS  OF  ANALYSIS   Data  acquisition  is  the  major  issue  in  creating  accurate  and  useful  maps  and  producing  relevant  analysis.   Different  recreation  sites  can  generate  vastly  different  annual  numbers  of  visitors.  For  instance,   Volcanoes  National  Park  gets  a  lot  more  visitors  than  the  much  smaller  Onekahakaha  Beach  Park  in  Hilo.   We  were  able  to  get  the  annual  number  of  visitors  of  national  parks  and  state  parks,  but  this  data  was   lacking  for  most  of  smaller  recreation  sites  (the  annual  visitor  data  does  not  exist  as  visitors  are  not   tracked  in  many  of  these  sites).    National  Parks  and  State  Parks  are  labeled  separately  to  better  show   those  recreation  sites  on  the  Island  for  which  we  have  visitation  data.     Likewise,  one  business  may  employ  1,000  people,  while  another  may  employ  only  10.  The  data  of  the   number  of  employees  for  all  businesses  of  the  island  was  difficult  to  obtain.  As  a  result,  we  developed   the  map  of  work  hubs  just  based  on  their  locations.  In  fact,  getting  locations  of  all  the  businesses  was  in   itself  also  quite  difficult,  given  the  overall  number  of  businesses  is  more  than  20,000  with  no  single   public  database  storing  all  of  their  locations.  Instead,  we  chose  to  make  estimations  of  work  hub   distributions  based  on  the  most  popular  businesses  (based  on  Google  Analytics),  hoping  the  pattern  of   estimated  work  hubs  on  the  map  could  more  or  less  reflect  the  true  pattern  in  reality.     Continuous  updates  are  important  to  increase  the  accuracy  all  of  the  maps  and  should  be  undertaken  as   new  data  becomes  available.     CREATING  THESE  MAPS   Data  sources  and  contents,  data  processing  approaches  and  map-­‐making  techniques  are  explained  in   the  Appendix  D.       39  |  Page     4:  MAUI  COUNTY  -­‐  A  PUBLIC   TRANSIT  CASE  STUDY     MAUI  COUNTY  PUBLIC  TRANSIT     Maui  County  was  chosen  as  a  case  study  because  of  the  similar  rural  nature  of  Maui  and  Hawai`i   Island,  relative  to  the  other  Hawai`ian  Islands.  While  Maui  County  encompasses  four  islands,   only  the  island  of  Maui  has  a  public  transit  system.    The  very  first  public  bus  service  on  Maui  was   started  in  2002.61    Today,  the  Maui  Department  of  Transportation  (DOT)  runs  the  system  in  the   County  government,  and  the  DOT  essentially  functions  as  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  on  Maui.  The   Maui  DOT  also  runs  paratransit,  which  is  a  flexible  transit  service  that  involves  demand  response   and  is  commonly  used  to  transport  ADA  passengers.    However,  paratransit  is  outside  of  the   realm  of  Hele-­‐On  and  thusly  not  a  focus  of  investigation  in  this  report.  There  are  a  total  of  13   fixed  routes  along  with  four  routes  that  are  designated  as  commuter  service.    All  of  the  routes   are  contracted  out  to,  and  operated  by,  Roberts  Hawaii.    The  non-­‐commuter  routes  have   standardized  schedules  that  run  throughout  the  day,  leaving  at  regular  intervals  of  0.5,  1,  or  1.5   hours.    The  commuter  routes  cater  to  the  working  schedules  of  resort  employees,  similar  to   some  of  the  longer  Hele-­‐On  routes.    The  fares  are  similar  to  Hele-­‐On  at  $2  per  ride,  $4  per  daily   pass,  and  $45  for  a  monthly  pass  with  discounts  for  students  and  seniors.62    A  similar  system   operational  structure  exists  as  well,  with  the  management  done  by  the  government,  but  the   day-­‐to-­‐day  operation  of  the  routes  is  contracted  out.63    A  couple  of  basic  differences  between   the  Maui  bus  system  and  Hele-­‐On  are  that  Maui  has  bus  stop  signs  more  consistently,  and  the   presentation  of  route  maps  and  schedules  are  more  readable  (see  Figures  4-­‐1  and  4-­‐2).64     Figure  4-­‐1:  Maui  Bus  Schedule     From  http://www.mauicounty.gov     40  |  Page     Figure  4-­‐2:  Map  of  Maui  Bus  System     Most  of  Maui’s  route  analysis  and  updates  are  now  based  on  public  feedback,  which  often   comes  through  public  hearings.    The  simplicity  of  the  non-­‐commuter  route  schedules,  with   regular  intervals,  is  cited  as  a  reason  for  not  having  pursued  GPS  technology.   MAUI  COUNTY  SHORT  RANGE  TRANSIT  PLAN   Maui  County  released  a  short-­‐range  transit  plan  in  2005.  At  this  stage,  the  bus  system  was  still  in   relative  infancy  with  three  routes  run  by  Roberts  Hawaii  and  only  six  fixed  routes  in  total.    As  a   result,  much  of  this  transit  plan  focused  on  planning  and  implementing  expansions  to  their   services.  The  report  was  prepared  by  Urbitran  Associates,  which  was  a  consulting  firm  that   specializes  in  urban  transit  planning,  but  has  since  been  bought  out  by  AECOM.65,66  In  order  to   identify  areas  of  need  for  bus  service,  a  scoring  system  was  used  with  demographic  variables  to   create  a  “transit  needs  index.”  The  variables  considered  were:  1)  population  density;  2)   employment  density;  3)  median  household  income;  4)  disability  status;  5)  age.  Some  maps  were   provided  for  each  of  these,  including  an  Employment  Density  map  (see  Figure  4-­‐3).   From  http://www.mauicounty.gov/     41  |  Page     Figure  4-­‐3:  Maui  Employment  Density  Map67     Within  each  category,  neighborhoods  were  scored  in  a  range  of  1-­‐5.    Summing  up  the  scores   then  allowed  for  a  map  to  be  created  with  differing  shades  for  ranges  of  transit  needs  scores   (see  Figure  4-­‐4).   Figure  4-­‐4:  Maui  Transit  Need  Map68       42  |  Page     Other  considerations  were  made  for  major  destinations  ranging  from  shopping  and  recreation   to  senior  citizen  centers,  hotels,  and  medical  facilities.  A  proactive  stakeholder  engagement   strategy  was  used  as  well,  including  interviews,  drop-­‐in  sessions  with  passengers  and  drivers,   public  workshops,  and  comment  forms.69   As  for  technological  recommendations,  one  key  suggestion  was  for  ridership  data  to  be   collected  via  some  sort  of  counter  system,  which  would  allow  for  more  effective  tracking;  this   includes  breaking  down  data  by  route,  time  of  day,  trip,  and  passenger  type.  This  information   would  be  valuable  for  future  route  and  system  planning  along  with  analyzing  usage  of  current   routes.  Along  those  lines,  Urbitran  recommended  replacing  the  manual  fare  boxes  with  an   electronic  fare  payment  system  to  improve  system  efficiency.  Other  recommendations  for   future  additions  to  the  public  transit  system  were  Automatic  Vehicle  Location  (AVL)  with  real-­‐ time  public  information  and  displays,  or  Traveler  Information  Systems  (TIS).  It  is  important  to   note  that  these  suggestions  were  made  in  January  of  2005.  While  none  of  these  upgrades  have   been  made,  most  of  them  are  being  investigated  by  the  County  government.   TECHNOLOGY  CURRENTLY  EMPLOYED  BY  MAUI   A  couple  of  technologies  that  are  currently  used  by  Maui  are  Geographic  Information  Systems   (GIS)  and  Google  Transit.  From  speaking  to  one  of  the  GIS  specialists  in  the  Maui  government,   the  initial  development  of  the  GIS  route  maps  required  “a  good  amount  of  effort,”  while  making   updates  is  relatively  easy.  One  of  the  lessons  learned  by  Maui  in  developing  GIS  maps  is  that  it  is   particularly  helpful  to  have  people  working  on  the  GIS  aspects  who  understand  the  transit  side   as  well  as  people  who  understand  the  GIS  side  working  on  the  transit  aspects,  for  quality’s   sake.70     Camera  systems  are  also  currently  in  use,  which  have  helped  police  investigating  incidents  such   as  vandalism.  While  they  did  not  purchase  the  full  GPS  option  that  came  along  with  the  cameras,   they  do  get  warnings  for  events  such  as  accidents  or  speeding.  While  current  ridership  data   collection  is  done  manually,  there  have  been  talks  to  move  towards  a  technological  solution  for   such  information  gathering.  Reasons  cited  for  deciding  to  look  into  this  include  efficiency  on  the   buses,  as  well  as  allowing  for  better  management  of  the  system.  The  County  government  is  also   looking  into  the  acquisition  of  GPS.71         43  |  Page     COMPARING  HAWAI`I  AND  MAUI   Based  on  the  data,  Maui  has  a  larger  bus  system  than  Hawai`i  Island.  The  ridership  is   approximately  double  that  of  Hawai`i,  and  it  is  growing  at  a  faster  rate  as  well  (see  the  Table  4-­‐ 1).   Table  4-­‐1:  Hawai'i  and  Maui  Ridership  (in  millions)   Year  Hawai`i  Ridership72    Maui  Ridership73   2012  1.32  2.7   2011  1.15  2.3   2010  1.06  2.14   2009  0.91  2.01   2008  0.82  1.5   2007  0.73  Not  available   2006  0.71  Not  available   Correspondingly,  Maui  spends  much  more  on  its  bus  system  than  Hawai`i,  and  this  gap  grows   even  larger  when  viewed  on  a  per  resident  basis  (See  Table  5).    The  population  data  shown  is  for   2010,  but  the  operational  budgets  used  were  the  actual  budgets  for  2012  in  order  to  match  up   with  the  most  recent  ridership  data  available.    The  budget  number  used  for  Maui  does  not   include  paratransit  funding  in  order  to  allow  for  a  more  accurate  comparison.    The  source  for   the  budget  data  comes  from  the  2014  operating  budgets  for  each  county.    Within  these   documents,  actual  budgets  for  2012  were  used  for  the  purpose  of  this  analysis.  Both  budgets   are  actual,  as  opposed  to  proposed,  budget  numbers,  and  they  are  operational,  as  opposed  to   capital  expenditures.    This  allows  for  a  more  accurate  measurement  across  the  transit  agencies   that  would  not  be  swayed  by  one  agency  or  the  other  making  significant  investments  in   increasing  their  vehicle  fleets.    Another  conclusion  that  can  be  drawn  is  the  Maui  system  has  a   passenger  board  more  frequently  in  general  than  the  Hawai`i  system,  and  a  likely  explanation   for  this  is  that  Hele-­‐On  has  a  greater  portion  of  long,  commuter-­‐type  routes.    Additionally,  Maui   spends  over  four  times  more  per  vehicle-­‐mile  traveled,  meaning  their  system  may  not  be  as   efficient,  although  the  conclusion  cannot  necessarily  be  drawn  that  they  spend  more  per   passenger-­‐mile  traveled.   Table  4-­‐2:  Hawai'i  and  Maui  Transit  Data  Comparison    Hawai`i  County  Maui  County   Population  189,19174  144,44475   Transit  Operational  Spending  $2,765,72076  $6,977,50077   Per  Capita  Expenses  $14.62  $48.31   Ridership  (#  of  Boardings)  1,315,22278  2,703,41179   Cost  per  Rider  $2.10  $2.58   Cost  per  Vehicle-­‐Mile  $1.04  $4.27   Miles  per  Boarding  2.021  0.605     44  |  Page     CONCLUSION   Obviously,  differences  do  exist  between  the  two  islands,  but  because  of  the  similarities,  some  of   what  has  been  successfully  utilized  on  Maui  can  also  be  applied  on  Hawai`i  Island,  and  lessons   that  Maui  has  learned  along  the  way  should  be  taken  advantage  of  by  Hele-­‐On.  Some  simple   upgrades  to  Hele-­‐On  that  could  be  made  are  improving  the  visual  appeal  and  clarity  of  route   maps  and  schedules.  In  looking  to  expand  service,  creating  an  objective  scoring  system  could   help  with  the  ideal  placement  of  routes  in  order  to  maximize  societal  benefit  and  minimize   costs.  Since  Hele-­‐On  is  much  more  mature  today  than  Maui’s  system  was  at  the  time  of  the   Short  Range  Transit  Plan,  perhaps  they  can  use  that  strategy  in  combination  with  any  requests   for  additional  service  in  order  to  minimize  the  amount  of  time  that  must  be  spent  analyzing   areas  into  which  expanding  service  would  not  yield  significant  benefits.    In  terms  of  technology,   Maui  is  not  a  leader  amongst  public  transit  agencies,  but  they  have  been  at  least  somewhat   innovative  with  their  maps  and  Google  Transit,  and  Maui  is  looking  to  invest  in  additional   technology  solutions  to  improve  the  efficiency  of  their  system.  Lastly,  Maui  outspends  Hele-­‐On   on  its  bus  system  and  has  over  double  the  ridership.  Overall,  the  emphasis  on  public  transit   appears  to  be  more  significant  on  Maui.       45  |  Page     5:  THE  CASE  FOR  IMPROVING  THE   TRANSPORTATION   INFRASTRUCTURE  OF  HAWAI`I   ISLAND     OVERCOMING  THE  TRANSPORTATION  CHALLENGES   Transportation  on  Hawai`i  Island  is  complicated  and  presents  great  challenges.  There  is  rising   and  more  complex  demand  for  public  transit  service,  operational  costs  are  increasing,  and   resources  are  limited.  In  recent  years,  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  (MTA)  has  persistently  worked   towards  expanding  its  Hele-­‐On  services  and  providing  residents  with  suitable  transportation   options  and  an  improved  experience.  However,  the  Agency  still  faces  many  challenges  to  expand   while  maintaining  high  quality  service.  At  the  same  time  the  Island’s  traffic  is  getting  worse   according  to  locals,  fuel  expenses  are  a  huge  burden  and  vehicle  carbon  emissions  are  naturally   increasing,  as  many  people  commute  alone  in  their  personal  vehicles.   In  the  following  sections  we  will  evaluate  a  number  of  alternatives  in  order  to  provide  some   recommendations  for  dealing  with  these  issues.  In  Section  6  we  will  focus  on  technology   investments  for  the  Hele-­‐On  public  transportation  system.  In  Section  7,  we  will  discuss  private   sector  investments  that  could  provide  alternative,  cost-­‐effective  ways  to  commute  on  Hawai`i   Island.   THE  TECHNOLOGY  VALUE  PROPOSITION  FOR  HELE-­‐ON   We  have  identified  two  overarching  areas  of  opportunity  that  can  facilitate  the  transition  to  a   more  economically,  socially  and  environmentally  sustainable  mass  transit  system  for  Hawai`i   Island.  The  following  graphic  introduces  these  two  areas,  the  different  segments  in  which  they   may  be  targeted,  and  the  potential  benefits  they  could  provide.  We  believe  that  focusing  on   employing  technologies  that  improve  the  efficiency  of  the  current  system  and  also  increase   customer  service  offerings  will  help  the  MTA  achieve  their  goals  of  expansion,  while  minimizing   costs  and  maintaining  their  high  level  of  service.     46  |  Page     Figure  5-­‐1:  Areas  of  Opportunity  for  Implementing  Technology     In  Section  6,  we  will  also  explore  how  rural  mass  transit  agencies  across  the  United  States  are   implementing  this  technology  to  enhance  their  operations.  We  will  go  through  available   technologies  and  how  they  can  benefit  Hawai`i’s  Hele-­‐On  system,  and  analyze  two  rural  transit   case  studies  in  which  some  of  these  technologies  have  been  applied  successfully.  Finally,  we  will   determine  which  of  the  analyzed  technologies  will  have  the  biggest  potential  positive  impact  for   the  County  of  Hawai`i  Mass  Transit  Agency,  Hele-­‐On  and  its  passengers  and  provide  an  overview   of  potential  vendors.   PRIVATE  INVESTMENTS  IN  TRANSIT  INFRASTRUCTURE  OF  HAWAI`I  ISLAND   While  public  transit  remains  a  key  issue  for  the  future  growth  and  mobility  of  the  Hawai`i   County,  our  analysis  has  shown  that  a  substantial  majority  of  riders  hail  from  low-­‐income   communities,  forgoing  automobile  transportation  due  to  its  high  cost  of  consumption  relative  to   income.  For  this  reason,  we  believe  there  is  a  great  need  for  private  investments  in  innovative   alternative  modes  of  transportation  that  serve  those  that  do  not  use  the  public  transit  system.   Additionally,  alternative  ridesharing  networks  or  vanpool  systems  targeted  towards  middle-­‐ income  residents  and  (possibly)  tourists  offer  commuter  incentives  beyond  simply  the  cost  of   travel.     Section  7  outlines  our  analysis  of  ridesharing  and  vanpool  networks  and  provides  our   suggestions  for  best  practices  for  implementing  them  on  Hawai`i  Island.  We  weigh  the  merits  of   a)  introducing  an  existing  rideshare  network  onto  the  island;  b)  establishing  a  public-­‐private   partnership  to  create  a  rideshare  network  unique  to  the  island;  or  c)  alternative  frameworks  for   implementing  a  vanpool  network.  In  addition,  we  discuss  possible  funding  channels,  as  well  as   offer  a  possible  business  model  that  examines  how  uniquely  partnered  rideshare  networks   might  function  on  Hawai`i  Island.     47  |  Page     6:  OPTIMIZING  PUBLIC  TRANSIT   WITH  TECHNOLOGY  SOLUTIONS     TECHNOLOGY  IN  MASS  TRANSIT   Technology  has  been  used  in  multiple  forms  and  for  various  purposes  related  to  public   transportation.  There  are  three  stages  of  trip.  For  each  of  these  stages,  the  customer  requires   different  information,  and  this  information  should  be  delivered  using  different  methods.  The   following  graphic  illustrates  this  process  and  the  different  ways  in  which  information  can  be   delivered  to  the  passenger.   Figure  6-­‐1:  Stages  of  Transportation  and  Information  Delivery     Similarly  real-­‐time  dynamic  passenger  information  systems  depend  on  three  main  stages:  data   collection,  data  integration  and  analysis,  and  the  delivery  of  the  information  to  passengers.   Effective  systems  rely  on  three  main  pieces  of  information:  1)  real-­‐time  vehicle  location;  2)  GIS   maps;  and  3)  information  about  traffic  conditions  and  delays.80  Being  aware  of  the  specific   information  requirements,  as  well  as  the  appropriate  methods  of  information  distribution  based   on  what  resources  customers  have  available  to  them,  is  an  important  aspect  of  incorporating   technology  into  public  transportation.  In  the  case  of  Hawai`i  Island,  it  will  be  important  to  keep   in  mind  the  types  of  technology  in  which  people  actually  have  access.  For  example,  according  to   a  survey  performed  by  Kanu  Hawai`i,  out  of  a  sample  of  100  people  only  around  30  use  a     48  |  Page     “smartphone”;  therefore  smartphone  apps  are  currently  not  an  ideal  method  of  communication   in  Hawai`i.81   EXISTING  TECHNOLOGY  OPTIONS  AND  THEIR  BENEFITS   There  are  many  Intelligent  Transportation  System  (ITS)  technologies  that  have  successfully   penetrated  the  public  transportation  market,  but  not  all  are  currently  used  in  rural  public   transit.  A  2009  national  survey  of  rural  transit  agencies  investigated  technology  use,  obtaining   responses  from  451  different  agencies  across  45  states.  The  survey  analyzed  the  technologies   being  used,  as  well  as  the  technology’s  purpose  and  benefits.82  A  summary  table  of  the   identified  technologies  is  included  below:   Table  6-­‐1:  Available  Technologies   Technology  Name  Brief  Description  Selected  Benefits   Automatic  Vehicle  Location   (AVL)   Tracking  of  vehicle  location  Vehicle  fuel  efficiency;   safety/security.     Computer  Automated   Scheduling  &  Dispatch   (CASD)  Software   Software  package  that  helps   automate  scheduling  and   dispatch,  particularly  for   demand  response  service   Operational  efficiency;   reporting/record  keeping   Geographic  Information   Systems  (GIS)   Spatial  data  containing  various   information;  often  required  for   other  technologies   Planning/scheduling;  maps   Mobile  Data  Terminals   (MDTs)   Devices  with  screens  that  allow   for  communication  and  data   transfer/display   Vehicle  status  information;   reliable  communication   Electronic  Fare  Payment   (EFP)   Collection  and  processing  of   fares  is  done  electronically,   often  using  cards  of  some  form   Ridership  data  collection;  ease   of  fare  collection;  passenger   convenience   Traveler  Information   Systems  (TIS)   A  wide  range  of  technologies   that  deliver  information  to   passengers   Passenger  convenience   Google  Transit  Schedule  is  available  through   Google  Maps  and  has  trip   planner  capabilities   Passenger  convenience;  live   updates  can  be  incorporated   There  are  a  wide  variety  of  benefits  that  can  be  garnered  from  ITS  technologies.  In  general,   some  benefits  of  implementing  ITS  in  Hawai`i  include  operational  efficiency,  economic   productivity,  a  reduction  in  energy  use  and  environmental  impacts,  convenience  and  comfort   for  users  through  information  availability  and  awareness,  and  safety  and  security  through   improved  driving  behavior.83    More  specific  benefits  associated  with  certain  technology  types   will  be  discussed  below.         49  |  Page     AUTOMATIC  VEHICLE  LOCATION   1. One  relatively  common  technology  is  Automatic  Vehicle  Location  (AVL).  The  specific   method  can  vary,  but  the  most  common  one  uses  Global  Positioning  System  (GPS)   technology,  which  requires  on-­‐vehicle  technology  to  determine  the  location  of  each   vehicle.84  Sometimes  satellite-­‐based  AVL  systems  are  not  available  in  rural  areas,  but   this  does  not  present  an  obstacle  for  Hele-­‐On  as  AVL  is  currently  being  used  for  tracking   purposes.85  The  reported  purposes  of  AVL  include  dispatching,  service  quality,  safety,   customer  information,  scheduling,  and  communication,  among  others.  One  of  the   related  benefits  of  AVL  is  that  emergency  response  times  are  reduced.86,87  AVL  also   allows  transit  agencies  to  monitor  their  vehicles  to  ensure  they  are  on-­‐schedule,  which   can  help  with  planning  as  well  as  dealing  with  customer  grievances.88    Beyond  simply   dealing  with  complaints,  customer  relations  are  often  improved  as  well  for  agencies  that   add  AVL  technology.89  In  terms  of  financials,  companies  that  use  GPS  technology  save  an   average  of  $5,484  per  employee  per  year.  Furthermore,  the  installation  of  GPS  systems   resulted  in  a  reduction  in  fuel  costs  by  13.2%  on  average,  and  the  majority  of  these   reductions  were  through  minimizing  speeding  and  time  spent  idling.90  Beyond  these   benefits,  AVL  can  facilitate  the  implementation  of  other  technologies,  as  the  data   collected  can  be  used  for  many  different  purposes.  While  Hele-­‐On  already  utilizes  AVL   internally,  additional  benefits  can  be  realized  by  coupling  with  routing  optimizing   software  and  by  generating  useful  and  accessible  information  for  riders.     COMPUTER-­‐AIDED  SCHEDULING  AND  DISPATCH   Another  commonly  used  technology  is  Computer-­‐Aided  Scheduling  and  Dispatch  (CASD)   software.  These  packages  vary  in  exactly  what  they  offer,  but  generally  they  streamline   operations  by  automating  a  transit  agency’s  scheduling  and  dispatch.  This  is  particularly  useful   for  demand-­‐response  service,  which  could  be  useful  if  the  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency   decides  to  pursue  vanpool  networks  (which  we  will  discuss  in  Section  7).  The  primary  uses,   however,  are  for  reporting  and  record  keeping,  as  well  as  scheduling.91   GEOGRAPHIC  INFORMATION  SYSTEMS   Geographic  Information  Systems  (GIS)  are  another  application  of  technology  commonly  used   within  rural  transport.  While  GIS  has  many  different  applications,  the  two  most  common  uses  of   GIS  are  for  scheduling  and  operations.  GIS  can  be  useful  for  Hele-­‐On  because  it  can  assist  in  the   management  and  communication  of  large  amounts  of  collected  data  through  GPS  or  other   methods,  and  it  can  do  so  in  a  visually  appealing  manner  like  a  detailed  map.  It  is  also  helpful  as   a  planning  tool  since  it  can  include  demographic,  economic,  and  road  network  data  that  can   improve  travel  demand  modeling.92   MOBILE  DATA  TERMINALS    (Source:  US  DOT)     50  |  Page     Mobile  Data  Terminals  (MDTs)  allow  for  non-­‐vocal  communication  between  vehicle  drivers  and   the  transit  agency.  They  are  installed  in  the  vehicles  and  can  communicate  information  such  as   vehicle  location  and  performance  and  passenger  counts.    Because  MDTs  rely  on  the  collection  of   a  number  of  types  of  data,  they  are  often  integrated  with  other  forms  of  technology.  For   example,  in  order  to  communicate  vehicle  location,  MDTs  would  need  to  be  integrated  with   Automatic  Vehicle  Location  (AVL).  Similarly,  integration  between  MDTs  and  Electronic  Fare   Payment  (EFP)  systems  would  allow  for  the  communication  of  passenger  counts.    The  primary   uses  of  MDTs  are  to  identify  vehicle  location  or  passenger  boarding  and  drop-­‐off.    MDTs  can  also   relay  information  about  a  specific  vehicle’s  mechanical  status,  which  is  useful  to  determine   when  preventative  maintenance  is  necessary.93    Additionally,  they  are  generally  a  more  reliable   form  of  communication  than  voice,  which  can  be  particularly  useful  on  Hawai`i  where  there  are   gaps  in  cell  phone  coverage.94       ELECTRONIC  FARE  PAYMENT   There  are  multiple  varieties  of  Electronic  Fare  Payment  (EFP)  systems,  but  they  all  assist  with   both  the  collection  and  processing  of  fare  payments  and  can  provide  Automated  Passenger   Counting  (APC)  and  other  trip  information.  Oftentimes  they  use  cards  or  tickets  of  some  form,   which  use  a  magnetic  stripe,  bar  code,  or  Radio  Frequency   Identification  (RFID)  technology.  RFID  technology  allows  for   information  to  be  communicated  by  simply  placing  the  card   near  a  sensor,  and  it  is  often  referred  to  as  smart  card   technology.  In  the  survey,  all  of  the  agencies  that  use  EFP   reported  using  magnetic  stripe  cards  or  tickets,  while  25%  also   use  smart  cards  and  12%  use  barcodes.95  EFP  systems  eliminate   the  driver’s  responsibility  of  handling  cash  and  the   corresponding  losses  that  come  with  the  task.  Additionally,   ridership  can  be  automatically  tracked,  and  when  integrated   with  an  AVL  system  the  ridership  data  can  be  location-­‐specific   for  boarding.  Boarding  speed  is  increased  as  well,  which  can   improve  convenience  for  passengers,  and  result  in  increased   satisfaction  and  ridership  through  increased   customer  loyalty.96   TRAVELER  INFORMATION  SYSTEMS   Traveler  Information  Systems  (TIS)  encompass  a   wide  range  of  technologies  that  deliver  information   to  passengers.  These  can  be  divided  up  by  the   different  stages  of  a  trip,  previously  discussed.  Pre-­‐trip  information  can  be  made  available  to   users  via  the  internet  or  phone,  and  should  include  trip  planning  tools,  as  well  as  both  static  and   real-­‐time  information  related  to  bus  routes  and  schedules.  During  the  trip,  both  variable    (Source:  Lehman  Center)       51  |  Page     message  signs  and  audible  announcements  can  be  employed.  While  mobile  telephone   companies  claim  to  have  cellular  phone  coverage  almost  everywhere  on  the  entire  island,  we   realize  that  this  is  not  true  in  all  parts  of  the  island  as  there  are  gaps  due  to  geographic   characteristics.  However,  diversifying  the  modes  of  communication  in  which  the  information  is   delivered  can  solve  this  problem  and  reach  more  people.  The  primary  benefit  of  TIS  is  to   improve  service  quality  and  passenger  experience  through  predictability,  reliability  and  ease  of   use.  For  example,  an  experiment  at  a  bus  station  in  London  found  that  waiting  times  were   perceived  to  be  lower  by  passengers  simply  by  providing  real  time  information  about  bus   arrivals  at  the  stop.97  This  provides  further  evidence  that  customer  satisfaction  could  be   improved  by  incorporating  technology  into  Hele-­‐On.98   HISTORIC  ADOPTION  BY  RURAL  TRANSIT  AGENCIES   The  table  below  shows  the  usage  rates  of  the  previously  discussed  technologies  amongst  the   rural  public  transit  agencies  that  responded  to  the  national  survey  we  mentioned  previously.   Agencies  that  used  one  technology  were  more  likely  to  use  other  technologies.99   Table  6-­‐2:  Current  and  Prospective  Adoption  Rates   Technology  Type  Percent  That  Currently  Use  Of  Remaining,  Percent  Will  Use   In  5  Years   Automatic  Vehicle  Location   (AVL)   6%  45%   Computer-­‐Aided  Scheduling   and  Delivery  (CASD)  Software   33%  46%   Geographic  Information   Systems  (GIS)   25%  43%   Mobile  Data  Terminals  (MDTs)  9%  31%   Electronic  Fare  Payment  (EFP)  2%  32%   Traveler  Information  Systems   (TIS)   4%  20%   While  these  rates  may  seem  extremely  low,  it  is  important  to  note  that  the  majority  of  the  rural   agencies  surveyed  are  significantly  smaller  than  the  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency.  Within   the  survey,  the  larger  an  agency  was  (measured  by  vehicle-­‐hours  of  service,  ridership,  fleet  size,   or  budget)  the  more  likely  they  were  to  use  technology.  The  adoption  rates  for  the  largest   agencies  included  in  the  survey,  which  Hele-­‐On  far  exceeds  in  each  case,  are  shown  in  the  table   below.100   Table  6-­‐3:  Technology  Adoption  Rates   Technology  1,000,000+   Vehicle-­‐Hours   of  Service   150,000+   Passenger  Trips   (Ridership)   20+  Vehicles  in   Fleet   $1.5  million+   Annual  Budget   AVL  38%  40%  42%  38%     52  |  Page     CASD  70%  47%  64%  55%   GIS  52%  51%  53%  55%   MDTs  26%  25%  30%  22%   EFP  5%  8%  2%  6%   TIS  7%  11%  5%  8%   Hawai`i  values    1.15  million101  56  vehicles102  ~$3.5  million103   A  range  of  technology  options  exist,  and  each  of  them  have  different  benefits,  but  when   multiple  options  are  incorporated  together,  additional  benefits  can  be  created  that  do  not  exist   from  the  options  by  themselves.  It  is  not  uncommon  for  joint  adoption  of  technologies  to  occur   with  AVL,  GIS,  and  MDTs.    Accordingly,  it  is  not  uncommon  for  transportation  technology   companies  to  offer  multiple  technology  solutions  in  a  bundled  package  as  technologies  are   complementary  to  each  other.  As  more  technologies  are  properly  incorporated,  the  value   received  from  them  is  exponential.   GOOGLE  TRANSIT   While  it  was  not  included  in  the  survey  of  rural  transit  agencies,  Google  Transit  is  an  easily   achievable  target  for  Hele-­‐On.  Incorporating  Hele-­‐On  into  Google  Transit  can  provide  benefits   both  to  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  as  well  as  current  and  potential  future  riders.  Google  Maps  is   the  world’s  largest  mapping  website  and  is  accessible  in  over  forty  languages.  By  including  all  of   Hele-­‐On’s  routes,  riders  will  not  have  to  pick  and  choose  the  best  route  on  their  own.  Trip   planning  will  be  available  through  Google  Maps,  both  on  desktop  and  mobile  devices,  so   passengers  can  simply  input  their  starting  point  and  desired  ending  point,  as  well  as  requested   times  of  departure  and/or  arrival,  and  they  will  be  provided  with  the  public  transit  options  that   best  meet  their  requirements.104  This  trip  planner  tool  can  even  be  incorporated  into  the  Hele-­‐ On  website.  A  mass  transit  agency  in  Virginia,  Hampton  Roads  Transit,  that  began  using  Google   Transit  previously  used  6-­‐8  hours  of  employee  time  to  update  a  new  print  transit  schedule,   which  they  would  have  to  do  for  each  route,  often  multiple  times  per  year;  with  Google  Transit,   that  task  has  been  reduced  to  only  a  few  minutes.  They  also  improved  their  image  through  their   association  with  Google.105  The  only  drawback  for  Google  Transit  is  that  it  is  not  designed  to   supply  information  about  demand  response  service,  a  major  service  offering  for  many  rural   transit  operators.  Hawai`i  County,  however,  relies  on  fixed-­‐schedule  buses,  so  we  believe  the   system  has  a  lot  to  gain  from  this  relatively  simple  process.     Participating  in  Google  Transit  does  not  cost  anything  and  the  process  to  get  started  is  simple.   The  requirements  for  participating  in  Google  Transit  are  only  that  your  public  transit  service   operates  fixed  schedules  and  routes,  and  Hele-­‐on  satisfies  these.106       The  first  step  in  implementation  would  be  to  format  the  Hele-­‐On  data  in  the  format  required  by   Google  (specifications  for  this  can  be  found  on  the  cited  website).107  This  will  require  time   and/or  resources,  but  is  mostly  of  a  one-­‐time  upfront  investment,  and  future  updates  will  be   much  less  time-­‐intensive.  Additionally,  there  are  open  source  tools  available  to  expedite  this   process.108  Examples  of  these  feeds  can  be  found  on  the  cited  website.109  The  Northwest  Oregon     53  |  Page     Transit  Alliance,  which  is  made  up  of  five  different  rural  transit  agencies,  developed  a  web-­‐based   application  to  assist  in  the  process  of  integrating  rural  transit  agency  routes  and  schedules  with   Google  Transit  because  these  agencies  often  do  not  have  the  resources  available  to  hire  external   consultants  for  this  purpose.110  Once  this  data  is  created,  it  must  be  run  through  a  validator,  and   then  the  routes  can  be  previewed  to  make  sure  the  data  has  been  correctly  interpreted.  The   next  steps  are  to  zip  the  data  file  and  host  the  feed  on  a  web  server,  from  which  Google  will  be   able  to  download  it.  At  that  point,  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  will  need  to  contact  Google  and  sign-­‐ up  for  the  partnership,  a  private  preview  will  be  setup  and  an  online  agreement  will  be  made.   Once  everything  is  functioning  satisfactorily,  Google  Transit  will  launch  its  Hele-­‐On  segment.   While  Hele-­‐On  would  first  need  to  be  integrated  with  Google  Transit,  Google  Transit  has  the   ability  to  include  Live  Transit  Updates  as  well.111         The  Maui  DOT  reported  that  the  process  of  integrating  Google  Transit  was  not  at  all  difficult.  All   that  was  required  was  updating  a  spreadsheet  and  uploading  it  to  Google.112  Based  on  their   experience,  we  estimate  that  the  data  conversion  would  cost  $7,500.  This  would  include  the   initial  conversion,  as  well  as  the  development  of  a  web  app  that  would  allow  for  easy  updates  as   routes  change.  If  Google  Transit  were  to  require  a  new  data  feed  specification,  then  this   conversion  could  be  worked  on  at  an  hourly  rate  of  $95.113  All  in  all,  Google  Transit  is  likely  the   most  simple  of  all  potential  upgrades.   RURAL  TRANSIT  TECHNOLOGY  CASE  STUDIES   The  purpose  of  this  section  is  to  demonstrate  that  the  employment  of  technology  has  been   useful  in  mass  transit  systems  and  specifically  in  rural  situations,  where  population  density  is  low   and  sparse.  While  we  did  not  find  specific  case  studies  of  island  mass  transit  systems  using  this   technology,  we  believe  the  cases  we  have  developed  present  certain  similarities  to  Hawai`i,   which  makes  them  pertinent  to  this  report.   CASE  STUDY  1:  MODOC  COUNTY,  CALIFORNIA   IMPLEMENTATION:   Modoc  County,  a  rural  frontier  county  in  California  with  fewer  than  six  people  per  square  mile,   was  a  pioneer  of  rural  transit  agencies  incorporating  Intelligent  Transportation  System  (ITS)   tools.    There  were  multiple  tools  installed  in  the  system  during  this  project,  but  the  ones  most   relevant  to  Hele-­‐On  were  Automatic  Vehicle  Location  (AVL)  and  Electronic  Fare  Payment  (EFP),   as  well  as  Google  Transit  for  a  trip  planner  tool.  AVL/swipe  cards  allowed  for  automatic   collection  of  fares  as  well  as  ridership  data.  Modoc  County  was  the  first  rural  area  to  attempt  to   incorporate  Google  Transit,  and  they  did  so  successfully.   FINDINGS:   In  order  to  get  data  in  the  proper  format,  Modoc  County  hired  an  external  consultant,  the  Mary   Jaffe  Company.  The  process  was  a  learning  experience  that  could  be  used  by  fellow  rural  transit     54  |  Page     agencies,  including  Hele-­‐On,  in  their  own  future  implementation.  Unavailability  of  high  quality   route  maps  and  unreliability  of  internet  access  and  speeds  were  obstacles  encountered  by   Modoc  County.  Additionally,  they  found  that  it  was  important  to  make  a  contractor  prove  in  the   field  that  their  technology  can  apply  on  a  smaller  scale  than  is  typical,  as  opposed  to  simply   taking  the  contractor’s  word  for  it.  One  particularly  important  comment  was  that  “future  rural   ITS  projects  should  have  clear,  specific  milestones  that  can  be  accomplished  in  six  to  nine   months,”  which  fits  with  the  focus  on  short-­‐term  solutions.114         APPLICATION  TO  HAWAI`I  COUNTY:   One  significant  difference  between  Modoc  County’s  service  and  Hele-­‐On  is  that  there  is  a  much   larger  emphasis  on  demand  response  transport  in  Modoc  County.  As  a  result,  only  the  parts  of   the  project  that  apply  to  fixed-­‐route  service  were  included  in  this  analysis.  An  example  of  using   multiple  technologies  was  the  combination  of  AVL  and  EFP  to  allow  for  automatic  ridership  data   collection.  Additionally,  based  on  the  cooperation  between  Modoc  County  and  Google  Transit,   Google  has  revised  its  system  to  better  allow  for  the  incorporation  of  rural  transit  where  trips   are  less  frequent  than  hourly  or  even  daily.  This  ensures  that  most  of  the  issues  have  been   worked  out  for  Google  Transit  with  regard  to  rural  transit  operators,  so  the  process  should  be   smoother  for  Hele-­‐On.  Still,  a  significant  investment  of  some  form,  either  time,  new   employee(s),  or  consultants  may  be  necessary  to  get  schedules  in  the  proper  data  format  for   Google  Transit.   CASE  STUDY  2:  POINCIANA,  FLORIDA   IMPLEMENTATION:   A  partnership  between  the  Central  Florida  Regional  Transportation  Authority  (LYNX)  and  Polk   County  Transit  Services  (PCTS)  resulted  in  the  implementation  of  a  rural  ITS  demonstration   project  in  Poinciana,  FL  from  2006-­‐2007.  The  technologies  deployed  in  this  project  that  are   particularly  relevant  for  Hele-­‐On  were  Automatic  Vehicle  Location  (AVL),  Geographic   Information  Systems  (GIS),  Global  Positioning  Systems  (GPS),  and  Mobile  Data  Terminals   (MDTs).   FINDINGS:   This  project  resulted  in  a  number  of  impacts  to  the  transit  system.  While  there  are  multiple   contributing  factors  to  this,  including  linking  a  flex-­‐route  with  the  fixed-­‐route  system,  overall   fixed-­‐route  ridership  increased  24%  after  implementation.  Similarly,  total  transit  ridership   increased  27%.    Additionally,  customer  and  driver  satisfaction  were  both  improved  as  a  result  of   the  project.   Since  it  was  a  demonstration  project,  both  LYNX  and  PCTS  learned  some  important  lessons  along   the  way  that  can  be  used  by  future  adopters  of  technology,  including  Hele-­‐On.  For  procurement,     55  |  Page     it  is  crucial  to  make  sure  that  the  AVL  supplier  can  use  the  transit  operator’s  base  maps.  A  small   implementation  issue,  but  important  nonetheless,  is  that  the  GPS  antenna  needs  to  be  a   minimum  distance  away  from  the  radio  antenna  to  prevent  interference  (the  specific  distance   depends  on  the  technology  employed).  If  possible,  installing  the  GPS  receiver  and  MDT  in  close   proximity  helps  simplify  and  shorten  the  wiring  process,  but  it  is  also  important  to  make  sure   that  the  MDT  is  placed  in  a  location  that  will  prevent  boarding  passengers  from  damaging  it   accidentally.  Another  lesson  learned  during  implementation  is  that  there  needs  to  be  a   connection  between  the  MDT  and  the  vehicle’s  digital  odometer  in  order  to  get  the  AVL  system   to  function  properly,  and  this  process  proved  to  be  more  complicated  than  had  been   anticipated.  For  operations,  training  was  required  for  agency  employees  on  the  technology   being  implemented  which  increased  costs  of  the  agency.  As  an  example,  all  operating   employees  took  a  two-­‐hour  training  class  on  using  the  MDTs.       APPLICATION  TO  HAWAI`I  COUNTY:   Similarly  to  Modoc  County,  demand  response  is  a  component  of  the  transit  service  provided  by   these  agencies,  but  it  is  not  nearly  as  significant  since  there  are  still  plenty  of  fixed  routes  that   the  agencies  operate.    Like  Hawai`i  County,  a  great  deal  of  riders  use  the  LYNX/PCTS  systems  to   commute  to  work;  41%  of  those  who  completed  a  ridership  survey  claimed  travel  to  work  as  a   purpose  for  traveling  via  public  transit.  Additionally,  there  was  a  wide  range  of  trip  lengths   reported,  ranging  from  0-­‐15  minutes  to  over  2  hours.  The  survey  also  asked  how  the  riders   found  out  about  the  transit  services.  More  than  40%  responded  that  they  had  seen  a  transit   vehicle  on  the  street.  Almost  30%  stated  they  heard  about  the  availability  of  transit  services   from  a  friend.  While  the  lessons  that  LYNX  and  PCTS  learned  during  implementation  are  simple,   they  apply  in  all  settings  and  would  be  useful  in  making  the  future  process  smoother  for  Hele-­‐ On.   CUTTING  EDGE  RESEARCH   There  is  a  great  deal  of  relevant  research  related  to  new  and/or  cutting  edge  ideas  for  improving   rural  public  transit  through  technology.  One  pilot  program,  called  Bus  Coming,  uses  a   smartphone  system  integrated  with  Google  Maps  in  Trinidad  &  Tobago  and  allows  for  wayside   passengers  to  see  how  long  until  the  bus  arrives  at  their  specific  location,  as  opposed  to  how   long  until  it  gets  to  a  certain  stop.115  This  idea  would  be  particularly  useful  to  Hele-­‐On,  where   there  can  be  tens  of  miles  between  officially  listed  stops.  Additionally,  with  some  routes  running   service  before  sunrise,  it  would  improve  safety  for  passengers  catching  the  bus  in  the  middle  of   its  route  in  the  dark.  Another  similar  idea  is  a  system  in  which  riders  can  digitally  flag  the  bus,   alerting  the  drivers  that  they  are  waiting  for  them.116  This  also  would  be  particularly  appropriate   for  Hele-­‐On’s  long  routes,  especially  when  it  is  dark  out  and  bus  drivers  have  difficulty  spotting   passengers  along  the  side  of  the  road.     A  number  of  other  experiments  use  crowd-­‐sourced  data  supplied  by  the  passengers  themselves.   Crowdsourcing  is  becoming  popular  as  a  way  in  which  companies  or  organizations  can  collect     56  |  Page     desired  data  or  information  through  the  collaboration  of  a  large  group  of  people  who  are  willing   to  connect  digitally  through  their  phones  or  computers.  This  would  overcome  the  lack  of   infrastructure  present  for  obtaining  real  time  vehicle  location,  as  well  as  help  deliver   information  to  passengers.  To  get  around  this  challenge,  passengers’  smartphones  are  used   both  to  obtain  data  and  to  deliver  information.117  One  example  of  using  crowd-­‐sourced  data  is   Tiramisu,  an  Italian  app  that  provides  access  to  real-­‐time  arrival  data  for  local  public  transit,   although  it  is  currently  only  used  in  urban  areas.118    The  Informed  Rural  Passenger  project,  which   is  a  massive  research  project  investigating  technology  use  in  rural  transit,  is  being  carried  out  by   the  dot.rural  research  center  at  the  University  of  Aberdeen  and  has  investigated  using  crowd-­‐ sourced  data  as  well.  This  project  has  led  to  the  development  of  GetThere,  which  is  a  real-­‐time   passenger  information  system  that  takes  data  from  multiple  sources  and  delivers  information   through  multiple  methods.  Passengers  are  one  of  the  sources  for  data,  and  all  of  the  others  used   are  open  data  sources.  GetThere  delivers  information  through  web  sites,  SMS  messages,  and  a   smartphone  app.  Since  cell  phone  service  is  unreliable  in  parts  of  rural  Scotland,  this  flexibility  in   delivery  method  is  crucial.119    Even  with  this  limited  coverage,  the  pilot  of  GetThere  was  still   successful  at  identifying  bus  locations.  Other  examples  of  data  that  can  be  crowd-­‐sourced  are   occupancy  levels  as  well  as  facilities  present  in  the  vehicle,  such  as  if  there  is  a  restroom  and  if   there  are  bike  racks  available.  When  dealing  with  crowd-­‐sourced  data  some  issues  that  arise   include  privacy  and  security,  and  the  quality  must  be  monitored  as  well.120  Because  there  are   similar  infrastructure  issues  that  must  be  overcome  on  Hawai`i  Island,  these  crowd-­‐sourced  data   methods  could  prove  helpful.   CONCLUSIONS  ABOUT  TECHNOLOGY   There  are  multiple  reasons  why  these  technology  solutions  would  be  particularly  beneficial   when  applied  to  Hawai`i  Island.  There  is  significant  potential  for  operational  efficiency   improvements,  which  can  result  in  fuel  savings,  route  optimization  and  reduced  maintenance   cost.  Collecting  data  on  ridership,  driver  performance  and  commonly  used  stops  can  give  the   planning  department  full  visibility  of  their  system  operations,  which  is  necessary  for  determining   the  optimal  number  of  routes  and  buses  needed  to  serve  Hele-­‐On  riders  effectively,  without   redundancy.  With  little  technology  currently  being  used  in  Hele-­‐On,  the  opportunity  for   efficiency  improvements  could  be  even  larger.   Through  reliability,  predictability  and  clear  communication,  technology  can  help  the  customers   as  well.  It  can  make  current  riders’  experience  a  much  more  pleasant  one  and  could  also  bring  in   new  riders  that  are  not  fully  aware  of  or  do  not  yet  trust  the  public  transit  system,  boosting   ridership  and  revenues  and  potentially  reducing  operational  costs.  While  a  smartphone  can  be   useful  for  accessing  data  while  away  from  home,  not  all  people  in  Hawai`i  currently  use   smartphones.  However,  passengers  can  still  take  advantage  of  technology  solutions  by  either   using  the  Internet  on  computers  or  by  phone.  Since  the  demand  for  public  transit  in  Hawai`i   County  is  often  intermittent  and  related  to  work  schedules,  it  is  particularly  important  for   passengers  to  know  when  their  bus  will  be  arriving  because  the  next  bus  on  the  route  may  not     57  |  Page     come  for  many  hours.  Since  travel  times  to  mass  transit  stops  tend  to  be  longer  in  rural  areas,   having  confidence  in  exactly  when  a  bus  will  arrive  can  help  passengers  plan  the  appropriate   amount  of  buffer  time  in  order  to  catch  it  without  arriving  too  early  and  wasting  time.   Since  expanding  public  transit  service  is  commonly  brought  up  at  public  meetings,  doing  it  in  the   proper  areas  would  likely  be  well  perceived  and  adopted.  We  have  identified  key  technologies   that  we  believe  will  be  most  beneficial  for  the  County  of  Hawai`i  Mass  Transit  Agency,  the  Hele-­‐ On  bus  system  and  its  passengers.   KEY  TECHNOLOGIES  FOR  HELE-­‐ON   Automated  Passenger  Counting  (APC):  In  order  to  thoroughly  understand  which  routes  are  over   or  underserved  and  determine  ideal  routing,  sophisticated  ridership  data  is  crucial.  This  data  can   provide  valuable  insight  into  demand  patterns,  passenger  behavior,  duration  of  trips,  and  other   reference  points  to  properly  design  a  transit  system  that  effectively  serves  the  needs  of  its   customers  while  maintaining  operation  costs  low.  Reliable  data  can  determine  optimal  routes,   sizing  of  the  fleet  vehicles  for  each  route  (i.e.  a  van  versus  a  bus),  and  real  time  information   about  changes  in  demand  that  will  allow  easy  and  prompt  adjustment.  APC  can  be  included  with   an  Electronic  Fare  Payment  (EFP)  system  or  through  an  independent  system  of  sensors  at  the   bus  doors.   Geographic  Information  Systems  (GIS),  Automatic  Vehicle  Location  (AVL)  and  Mobile  Data   Terminals  (MDT):  These  three  technologies  can  have  a  positive  impact  on  routing  and  fleet   efficiency,  as  well  as  operator  and  vehicle  performance;  the  greatest  impact  of  these  systems   would  be  felt  through  simultaneous  implementation,  as  they  are  complementary  to  one   another.  A  mix  of  these  can  result  in  significant  reductions  in  fuel  and  overhead  costs.  One  of   the  key  benefits  these  technologies  provide  is  fleet  visibility.  Because  Hele-­‐On  will  be  able  to   track  its  entire  fleet  at  all  times,  routes  and  vehicles  can  be  used  and  allocated  optimally.  Driver   execution  can  also  be  tracked,  increasing  accountability.  Finally,  these  technologies  facilitate   easier  planning  and  more  efficient  operations.   Real-­‐time  Passenger  Information  (RTPI):  A  subset  of  general  Traveler  Information  Systems  (TIS),   real  time  passenger  information  has  potential  to  improve  customer  service  and  satisfaction,   ultimately  increasing  ridership  and  willingness  to  pay.  When  a  potential  bus  rider  has  access  to   information  on  bus  routes  and  real-­‐time  arrival  times,  the  stress  of  traveling  in  public   transportation  is  significantly  reduced.  Having  an  easy-­‐to-­‐use  mobile  phone  application,   computer  website,  or  text/call  center  that  can  provide  this  information  will  improve  the  rider’s   full  experience  and  could  attract  new  customers  while  making  current  ones  even  more  loyal.   ANALYSIS  OF  POTENTIAL  VENDORS     As  in  any  growing  market,  there  are  multiple  companies  offering  products  and  services  for   transportation  management  or  optimization  purposes.  We  performed  extensive  research  on   existing  companies  and  their  offerings.  This  analysis  can  serve  as  a  tool  for  the  Mass  Transit     58  |  Page     Agency  to  determine  which  company  might  best  fit  Hele-­‐On’s  requirements,  while  staying   within  the  County’s  budget  or  making  the  case  for  extra  funding  to  be  raised  via  public  or  private   investment.  Aside  from  economic  considerations,  an  ideal  vendor  should  be  able  to  provide   multiple  items  from  the  ‘Key  Technologies  for  Hele-­‐On’  listed  above  and  present  customizable   solutions.  Additional  value  will  come  from  firms  with  products  designed  specifically  for  public   transportation  systems  and  previous  experience  with  rural  or  island-­‐based  clients.   The  following  section  will  highlight  the  top  transportation  technology  companies  and  describe   their  product  and  service  offerings.  It  will  analyze  potential  benefits  and  implementation  costs,   and  list  some  examples  of  implementation  or  case  studies.  It  is  important  to  note  that  all   implementation  examples  were  provided  by  each  vendor  and  results  are  self-­‐proclaimed.  Before   any  particular  vendor  is  contracted,  we  suggest  contact  their  customers  to  confirm  their   satisfaction  with  the  vendor.  It  is  equally  important  to  note  that  while  the  companies  provided   costs  of  implementation,  these  are  not  official  quotes  and  the  price  of  their  products  or  services   will  vary  depending  on  each  project  and  its  customized  solutions.  These  numbers  serve  as  an   approximation,  but  it  will  be  essential  for  the  County  to  contact  the  vendors  directly  to  receive  a   real  price  offering.  Cost  calculations  are  based  on  a  fleet  of  56  vehicles  (48  buses,  5  cutaway   vans  and  3  minivans).121   ACTSOFT   ActSoft122  is  a  custom  software  development  company  based  out  of  Tampa,  Florida.  The   company  specializes  in  tracking  fleets  and  optimizing  the  system  through  timekeeping,   dispatching  and  tracking  forms.  Its  main  fleet  management  product,  CometFleet123  focuses  on   providing  tools  to  improve  routing,  reduce  downtime,  and  cut  costs.  CometFleet  is  composed  of   a  GPS  tracking  system  and  the  company’s  Comet  Suite  applications  to  provide  visibility  of  the   fleet  and  create  reports  to  identify  improper  use  of  vehicles  or  inefficient  behavior.   POTENTIAL  BENEFITS   • Reduced  fuel  and  overhead  costs   • Availability  of  location  data  for  fleet  vehicles  at  all  times   • Identification  of  idle  and  stop  times   • Can  be  used  to  improve  routing  and  eliminate  redundant  routes     • Reduced  downtime  and  unnecessary  wear   • Scheduled  maintenance  alerts   POTENTIAL  CONCERNS   • No  analysis  capabilities.  Analysis  would  have  to  be  performed  by  Hele-­‐On  or  County   • No  previous  experience  with  work  on  islands   • Not  designed  specifically  for  mass  transit  systems   • More  appropriate  for  fleet  tracking  and  driver  supervision   • Does  not  provide  Traveler  Information  Systems     59  |  Page     COSTS   ActSoft  works  on  24-­‐  and  36-­‐  month  term  contracts  and  a  month-­‐to-­‐month  payment.  A  one-­‐ time  licensing  fee  of  $100  is  required  and  the  monthly  payments  cover  the  equipment  rental   and  data  monitoring  and  access.  Hardware  installation  can  be  performed  by  the  customer  or   through  a  referred  installer.  Installation  services  typically  costs  a  total  of  around  $125.  However,   installation  is  relatively  simple  and  takes  approximately  30  minutes  per  vehicle.   Priceà  $23.99  per  vehicle  per  month  +  licensing  fee  +  installation  costs   Approximate  investment  for  Hele-­‐On  (for  3  years)à  $48,589   Additional  resources  neededà  Because  ActSoft  does  not  provide  any  analytics  services,  it   would  likely  be  necessary  to  hire  a  specialist  to  do  the  routing,  fleet  and  passenger  optimization   analysis.  The  hiring  and/or  training  of  a  Data  Manager  should  also  be  taken  into  consideration.   EXAMPLES  OF  IMPLEMENTATION   STAR  Transit  is  a  demand  response  public  transportation  company  for  Kaufman  and  Rockwell   Counties  in  Texas.  STAR  uses  ActSoft’s  Comet  Fleet  software  for  mileage  tracking,  driver   behavior  monitoring,  and  maintenance  reports  and  reminders.  Since  it  installed  the  software,   the  company  has  increased  fuel  efficiency  by  50%  and  is  saving  hundreds  of  dollars  per   month124.   Floyd  County  Schools  Transportation  Department  is  in  charge  of  transporting  students  safely   for  all  school-­‐related  activities,  as  well  as  communicating  with  parents  if  any  issues  or  concerns   arise.  ActSoft  provided  visibility  of  vehicle  location  and  therefore  reduced  safety  concerns  and   complaints  from  parents.  The  installation  of  this  software  allowed  Floyd  County  Schools  to   improve  their  operation  efficiency  and  to  properly  follow  the  location  of  dispatched  buses  and   children125   CONTACT  INFORMATION   http://www.actsoft.com/   (888)  732-­‐6638   NEXTBUS   NextBus126  is  a  real-­‐time  passenger  information  solutions  provider  that  offers  a  GPS  enabled   website  for  mobile  users  to  identify  the  nearest  bus  stops  and  provides  up-­‐to-­‐the-­‐minute  arrival   times.  Information  is  made  available  through  the  Internet,  SMS  text  or  a  phone  call,  which   enables  all  types  of  users  to  access  the  service.  NextBus  currently  serves  over  135  transit   agencies  and  more  than  300  million  riders  every  year.   POTENTIAL  BENEFITS   • Interface  is  easy  to  use  and  allowed  for  easier  planning  and  transportation     60  |  Page     • Increased  visibility  of  the  transit  system  for  passengers  with  live  mapping  of  rider,  stop   and  bus   • Automatic  alarms  help  riders  arrive  to  the  stop  on  time   • Customized  installation  to  meet  passenger,  management  and  budget  needs   • Focused  solely  on  public  transportation  systems   • Experience  with  many  fleet  sizes  and  broad  client  base   • Potentially  low  cost  solution       POTENTIAL  CONCERNS   • No  focus  on  fleet  optimization   • No  focus  on  passenger  or  route  tracking   • Does  not  solve  most  of  Hele-­‐On’s  needs  on  its  own.     • Requires  investment  in  other  technologies,  like  GPS  to  get  required  data   • No  previous  experience  on  islands   • No  previous  experience  in  rural  or  dispersed  areas     • Not  very  responsive,  no  contact  phone  number  available     COSTS   Unfortunately,  NextBus  did  not  respond  to  our  inquiries  and  therefore  cost  information  is  not   available.  However,  on  their  website  they  claim  having  customizable  options  to  fit  any  budget.   EXAMPLES  OF  IMPLEMENTATION   NextBus  serves  a  broad  range  of  transit  systems  in  North  America,  from  small  towns  and   colleges  to  large  cities.  Some  of  its  biggest  successes  include:  LA  Metro,  San  Francisco’s   Municipal  Transportation  Agency,  Chapel  Hill  Transit,  and  Massachusetts  Institute  of   Technology  (MIT).   CONTACT  INFORMATION   http://www.nextbus.com/   SYNCROMATICS   Based  in  Los  Angeles,  California,  Syncromatics127  is  focused  on  providing  Intelligent   Transportation  Systems  (ITS).  It  serves  fixed-­‐route  transit  clients  in  university,  municipal,  and   private  markets  and  currently  serves  the  entire  fleet  of  the  City  of  Los  Angeles  and  has   customers  in  30  states  in  the  United  States.       Syncromatics’  product  and  service  line  includes  cloud  hosting,  transit  dispatch,  real-­‐time  bus   tracking,  transit  reporting,  stop  annunciators,  automated  passenger  counting  and  transit   schedule  performance  reports.       61  |  Page     POTENTIAL  BENEFITS   • Real  time  passenger  information,  including  arrival  predictions   • Accessible  information  through  multiple  platforms:    smartphone  apps,  text  messaging,   Interactive  Voice  Response  (IVR)  phone  system   • Wayside  LED  signs   • Access  to  web-­‐based  tools  for  planners,  dispatchers  and  executives   • On-­‐time,  ridership  and  management  reports   • Includes  Computer  Aided  Dispatch  (CAD),  Automated  Vehicle  Location-­‐  GPS  (AVL),   Automated  Passenger  Counting  (APC),  Automated  Vehicle  Annunciation  System  (AVA)   POTENTIAL  CONCERNS   • No  previous  experience  on  islands   • No  previous  experience  in  rural  or  dispersed  areas   • Strongly  focused  on  dispatching  and  complex  transit  systems  (emergency  response),  not   necessarily  at  resource  optimization   COSTS   Unfortunately,  Syncromatics  has  not  responded  to  our  inquiries  and  therefore  no  cost  data  is   available.     EXAMPLES  OF  IMPLEMENTATION   City  of  Los  Angeles128:  With  incredibly  varied  traffic  patterns,  a  large  number  of  pedestrians,  and   regular  special  events,  downtown  LA  was  a  highly  unpredictable  environment  for  transit  buses.   Syncromatics  provided  real-­‐time  operations  tools  to  solve  the  multiple  challenges  this   environment  created.  For  this  particular  client  and  its  needs,  Syncromatics  developed  a  new   software  program  that  allowed  both  dispatchers  and  drivers  to  identify  the  relative  spacing  of   buses.   University  of  South  Florida129:  With  a  large  and  complex  transit  operation  system,  the  University   of  Florida  required  an  all-­‐inclusive  solution  to  their  operation  issues.  Syncromatics  provided  a   real-­‐time  passenger  information  system  (RTPI),  automated  passenger  counters  (APC),  mobile   data  terminals  (MDT),  and  in-­‐depth  reporting  and  dispatching  functions.  This  system  has   generated  over  200,000  hits  per  month  from  students,  faculty  and  staff.   CONTACT  INFORMATION   http://www.syncromatics.com/   (310)  728-­‐6997   TELETRAC   Teletrac130  provides  an  array  of  services  including  asset  location,  diagnostics,  fuel  efficiency,   safety,  and  compliance.  Its  Fleet  Director  software  is  aimed  at  fleet  management  issues  and     62  |  Page     requires  no  up-­‐front  cost.  They  provide  unlimited  training  and  support  as  well  as  a  lifetime   guarantee  on  hardware.  They  have  worked  with  more  than  20,000  fleets  around  the  world.   POTENTIAL  BENEFITS   • Fleet  and  route  optimization   • Improved  communication  with  customers  and  reliability   • Reduced  traffic  violations,  enhanced  security  and  safety   • All-­‐around  business  solution   • Customizable  for  public  transportation  systems   • Experience  in  the  field   POTENTIAL  CONCERNS   • No  previous  experience  on  islands   • No  previous  experience  in  rural  or  dispersed  areas   • Less  focus  on  rider  experience   COSTS   Teletrac  provides  free  installation,  web  training,  lifetime  warrantee  and  unlimited  service.   Equipment  rent  and  subscription  to  their  system  requires  two  month  down  payment  and  a  one-­‐ time  $95.00  process  fee.     Priceà  $39.00  per  vehicle  per  month  +  process  fee   Approximate  investment  for  Hele-­‐On  (for  3  years)à  $78,720   Additional  resources  neededà  Teletrac  can  help  Hele-­‐On  with  tracking  and  efficiency  but  they   do  not  provide  analysis  or  passenger  information  systems,  so  an  additional  investment  would  be   required  for  those  separately.  Further,  these  costs  are  for  their  basic  tracking  software  package,   there  are  additional  added  value  products  that  could  be  considered  for  more  sophisticated   hardware  or  services  but  would  require  additional  investment.   EXAMPLES  OF  IMPLEMENTATION   A  recent  survey  performed  by  Teletrac  to  all  supported  fleets  using  Fleet  Director  showed  a  30%   reduction  in  fuel  consumption,  a  15%  reduction  of  overtime,  a  12%  reduction  of  unauthorized   vehicle  use  and  a  12%  increase  in  productivity.   CONTACT  INFORMATION   http://www.teletrac.com/   1-­‐800-­‐TELETRAC   TRAPEZE     63  |  Page     Trapeze  Group  provides  transportation  solutions  through  technology,  systems  and  services  in   North  America.  The  “Transportation  Solutions”  department  within  the  company  focuses  on   public  transportation  management  to  improve  service  quality,  control  costs  and  optimize  the   fleet  resource  productivity.     Trapeze  Group  has  experience  working  with  small  and  dispersed  fleets  and  offers  customization   options  to  serve  diverse  fleets’  individual  needs.  Its  product  and  service  lines  span  from  asset   management  and  fuel  efficiency  to  routing,  ridership  and  operations  analysis  of  current  fleet.     BENEFITS   • Customizable  solutions   • Increased  productivity  of  fleet  and  operators   • Route  optimization   • Visibility  and  accessibility  for  passenger  through  real  time  information   • On-­‐the-­‐bus  technology  for  easy  operation   • Driver-­‐dispatcher  communication   • Available  customer  care  program   POTENTIAL  CONCERNS   • Potentially  requires  large  investment   COSTS   Unfortunately  Trapeze  Group  has  not  yet  provided  pricing  information  to  the  team.  The  quote   order  is  in  place  but  we  have  not  had  any  response.   EXAMPLES  OF  IMPLEMENTATION   Regina  Transit  is  the  public  transportation  system  in  Regina,  Saskatchewan,  Canada.  The  transit   agency  dealt  with  inefficiencies  and  problems  with  manual  dispatching  and  recording.   Dispatchers  were  lacking  real  time  information  and  location  status  of  their  fleet.  The  Regina   fleet  consisted  of  30  vehicles  to  serve  200,000  inhabitants  and  performed  an  average  of  200   trips  per  day.  After  installing  Trapeze  system,  weekday  ridership  increased  by  16%  and   passengers  per  hour  numbers  increased  from  2.96  to  3.0.   Kiwanis  Transit  (K-­‐Transit)  is  a  demand  response  transportation  provider  in  Ontario,  Canada   that  provides  services  in  three  rural  townships  and  whose  vehicles  average  over  450  kilometers   during  a  single  shift.  K-­‐Transit  required  detailed  client  history  tracking  and  customizable   reporting  functions  to  provide  accurate  data  to  federal,  provincial  and  municipal  stakeholders.   The  chosen  Trapeze  solution  automatically  scheduled  rides  and  maximized  the  number  of   passengers  riding  each  vehicle  through  routing  redesign  and  automated  dispatching   information.   CONTACT  INFORMATION     64  |  Page     http://www.trapezegroup.com/   (403)  777  3760  ext.  427     TSO  MOBILE   TSO  Mobile131  focuses  on  Mobile  Resource  Management  and  logistics  products  and  services.   With  headquarters  in  the  US,  Mexico,  Colombia,  Peru  and  Venezuela,  it  has  worked  on  projects   across  North,  Central  and  South  America,  as  well  as  the  Caribbean.  TSO  Mobile  provides  GPS   vehicle  tracking,  dispatching  tools,  and  other  specialized  products  for  public  transportation   systems.   TSO  provides  customized  solutions  depending  on  industry  and  size  of  fleet.  It  also  provides  a   strong  focus  on  customer  satisfaction  and  passenger  benefits.  Public  sector  specific  services   include  real-­‐time  GPS  tracking,  TSO  public  tracker  for  real-­‐time  information  for  passengers,   arrival  forecast,  Automated  Voice  and  Text  Information  Services  (AVIS  and  ATIS),  passenger   counters,  live  video  monitoring  of  buses,  LED  signs  and  annunciators,  and  public  information   displays  and  bus  stops.     POTENTIAL  BENEFITS   • Maximized  productivity  and  reduced  operational  costs   • Improved  dispatching   • Increased  security   • Previous  experience  with  rural  or  dispersed  and  low  density  areas   • Previous  experience  on  island  systems   • All-­‐around  and  customizable  business  solution   • Focused  on  public  transit  systems   • Provides  analytics/consulting  services  for  optimization     POTENTIAL  CONCERNS   • Requires  large  investment   COSTS   TSO  Mobile  provided  an  itemized  quote  that  includes  prices  for  all  of  the  following  systems:   Automatic  Vehicle  Locator  (AVL),  Automated  Passenger  Counting  (APC),  Video  Security,  LED   signs/annunciators,  public  information  displays,  Automatic  Text  and  Voice  Information  Systems   (ATIS  and  AVIS).  They  charge  a  total  project  management  fee  of  2%  and  a  monthly  services  fee,   which  depends  on  the  final  installed  systems  (if  all  were  installed,  this  fee  would  be  $170  per   unit).  This  price  includes  all  on-­‐site  installation,  training  and  unlimited  service.   Priceà  $7,797.32  per  vehicle  +  project  fee  (equipment).  $170  per  vehicle  per  month  (services).     65  |  Page     Approximate  investment  for  Hele-­‐On     Up-­‐front  investmentà  $445,210   Annual  investmentà  $114,240   Additional  resources  neededà  None.  If  anything,  the  County  might  choose  not  to  install  all   options  and  the  investment  would  be  lower.   IMPLEMENTATION  STATISTICS   From  TSO  Mobile  Website:   • Over  30  hours  per  week  can  be  saved  thanks  to  the  automation  of  operations.   • Over  30%  increase  in  ridership  can  be  achieved  through  proper  dispatching  and  an   efficient  public  transportation  service.   • Over  10%  reduction  in  costs  annually  can  be  achieved  depending  on  the  entity's  size,   operations  and  goals.   CONTACT  INFORMATION   http://www.tsomobile.com/   1-­‐877-­‐477-­‐2922   SUMMARY  OF  COMPANIES  AND  SERVICES   Figure  6-­‐2:  Analysis  of  Companies  and  Services     As  shown  in  Figure  6-­‐2  above,  the  companies  reviewed  in  this  research  provide  a  wide  array  of   services,  and  finding  the  best  option  for  Hele-­‐On  to  implement  will  depend  on  the  costs  of  each   and  the  availability  of  resources  in  the  County  of  Hawai`i.  If  resources  were  not  an  issue,  we   believe  TSO  Mobile  would  be  the  best  option.  Their  previous  experience  with  island   transportation  systems  was  evident  when  talking  to  their  sales  representative.  Options  like   Company Services Automated  Passenger  Counting  (APC)Routing  and  Fleet  Efficiency  OptimizationOperator  and  Vehicle  PerformanceReal-­‐time  Passenger  Information  (RTPI)Mobile  Data  Terminals  (MDT)Has  Specific  Service  for  Public  Transport?Has  worked  on  Rural  or  Island  ProjectsActsoft x x NextBus x x Syncromatics x x x x x Teletrac x x x x x Trapeze x x x x x x x TSO  Mobile x x x x x x x   66  |  Page     Automated  Voice  and  Text  Information  Services  (AVIS  and  ATIS)  are  ideal  for  Hawai`i  because  a   large  part  of  the  population  does  not  own  a  “smartphone”  or  technology  to  use  an  “app”.  For   those  that  do  use  smartphones,  an  app  is  available  as  well.  Finally,  TSO  Mobile  provides   analytics  and  consulting  services  at  no  extra  charge,  which  is  essential  in  Hawai`i  County  where   the  staff  is  not  specialized  in  that  type  of  work.   CONCLUSIONS  AND  NEXT  STEPS   After  an  extensive  analysis  of  available  technology  options  for  improved  transportation  services,   we  have  determined  that  there  are  many  opportunities  for  the  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit   Agency  to  invest  in  its  future  operations.  Further,  we  realized  that  the  value  of  a  technology   investment  is  exponential  when  several  technologies  are  used  together.  The  following  were   identified  as  the  most  beneficial  technologies  for  the  Hele-­‐On  transit  system:     1. Automated  Passenger  Counting  (APC)  through  Electronic  Fare  Payment  (EFP)  to   determine  ridership  trends  and  optimize  routes  and  pricing  depending  on  capacity  vs   demand.   2. Geographic  Information  Systems  (GIS)-­‐  to  create  and  provide  easy  and  appealing   information  on  routes  and  schedules.   3. Automatic  Vehicle  Location  (AVL)-­‐  to  understand  current  operations  and  optimize  route,   fleet  and  driver  performance.   4. Mobile  Data  Terminals  (MDT)-­‐  to  make  the  integration  of  technology  systems  easier  and   more  seamless.   5. Real  Time  Passenger  Information  (RTPI)-­‐  to  provide  better  predictability,  reliability  and   service  to  passengers  and  improve  their  overall  experience  to  increase  ridership.     While  Google  Transit  is  not  in  this  list,  as  it  lies  in  a  different  category  of  technology,  it  can   provide  incredible  benefits  at  a  low  cost  and  we  believe  it  is  the  first  important  step  the  Mass   Transit  Agency  should  take.   We  have  identified  three  different  stages  of  activities  and  investments  for  the  County  to   consider.  There  are  some  easy  and  low-­‐cost  solutions  that  we  recommend  should  be   implemented  right  away,  and  some  pricier  but  more  impactful  solutions  for  which  additional   funds  must  be  procured.   IMMEDIATE  SHORT  TERM   Ø Google  Transit:  Low  cost  option  with  easy  and  fast  implementation  that  can  help   passengers  identify  ideal  routes,  schedules,  connections,  etc.  It  will  be  necessary  to   develop  a  communication  strategy  to  let  users  know  of  its  availability  once  it  is  in  place.   Ø Website  enhancements  for  easier  navigation.   Ø Develop  clear  route  schedules  and  maps  that  can  be  seen  on  website  without  the  need   to  download  the  file.   SHORT  TO  MEDIUM  TERM     67  |  Page     Ø Procure  funding  for  significant  technology  investment.  Tentative  sources  include:  federal   grants,  private  impact  investment  opportunities,  and  environmental  or  social  impact   foundations     MEDIUM  TERM   Ø Make  technology  investment   o Determine  appropriate  vendor  and  obtain  a  customized  quotes   o Determine  new  staff  requirements  and  cost  (if  any)   o Set  project  manager  responsible  for  implementation         68  |  Page     7:  PRIVATE  INVESTMENTS  AND   TRANSPORTATION  ALTERNATIVES     OPPORTUNITY:  BUILDING  A  RIDESHARE  NETWORK   THE  NEED  FOR  RIDESHARING  NETWORKS  IN  HAWAI`I  COUNTY   Ridesharing  networks  offer  an  alternative,  inexpensive  method  of  transportation  that  would  be   well  suited  for  coordinating  commuting  across  the  County’s  dispersed  and  rural  populations.     According  to  the  American  Automobile  Association,  in  2008  it  cost  the  average  American  54.1   cents  per  mile  to  drive,  including  gasoline,  oil,  maintenance,  and  vehicle  depreciation;  a  40-­‐mile   daily  round  trip  would  end  up  costing  $21.64  per  day,  $454  monthly,  or  $5,453  annually.132   These  costs  are  increased  substantially  for  Hawai`i,  where  gasoline  prices  average  almost   $0.80/gallon  more  than  national  levels.133     A  German  employer-­‐based  rideshare  network  (TwoGo)  recently  implemented  trial  runs  of  its   service  in  Canada,  the  United  States  and  Singapore  between  July  2011  and  April  2013;  the  trial   analyzed  patterns  of  22,000  employees,  8,500  of  which  registered  with  the  network.  In  this  two-­‐ year  period,  there  were  36,000  matches,  400,000  miles  eliminated,  88  kilotons  of  greenhouse   gas  emissions  avoided,  and  $5  million  realized  in  fuel  savings,  car  maintenance  and  resale   value.134  A  U.S-­‐based  service  specializing  in  corporate  and  university  partnerships,  Zimride,  had   facilitated  over  26,000  carpools,  acquired  350,000  registered  users,  and  saved  users  over  $50   million  in  vehicle  operating  expenses  within  the  two  years  since  its  inception.135   Ridesharing  networks  allow  for  greater  cost  sharing  among  users,  reduced  car  maintenance   costs,  and  could  ease  overall  congestion  on  roads.  As  these  networks  penetrate  the  national   market,  rivalry  among  services  is  increasing  and  fees  are  becoming  more  cost-­‐competitive   between  both  networks  as  well  as  taxi  services.  UberX  recently  reduced  fares  to  make  them  10%   lower  than  average  taxi  prices  (base  UberX  fare  of  $7  plus  $0.80-­‐$3.80/mile),136  while  Lyft,  an   app  created  by  Zimride,  has  maintained  an  average  cost  of  $15  per  hour  with  drivers  keeping   80%  of  the  total  donations.137[138][139]     In  addition  to  lowered  costs,  rideshare  networks  allow  for  flexibility  of  unintended  scheduling   conflicts,  work  delays,  and  the  reassurances  of  GPS-­‐tracked  reliability  and  sharing  of  information   unparalleled  by  bus  transit  –  each  trip  is  specifically  tailored  to  the  needs  of  passenger  and   driver.     Commuters  are  realizing  real  benefits,  reflected  by  the  rapid  expansion  of  regional  and  urban   networks,  increased  capital  investment  funding,  and  increased  average  growth  of  up  to  60%   monthly.140  Travelers  are  also  attracted  to  the  network  by  the  sense  of  community,  informality,   and  public  good  derived  by  users.  Ridesharing  networks  are  under  consideration  nationwide  in     69  |  Page     order  to  adequately  address  the  unmet  demand  for  lower-­‐cost  travel  alternatives  for  middle-­‐ income  residents.  For  this  reason,  we  do  not  foresee  that  future  implementation  will  adversely   impact  mass  transit  ridership  on  Hawai`i  Island,  which  mainly  relies  on  lower-­‐income  workers   for  a  majority  of  its  fare  revenue.   The  biggest  challenges  to  implementation  of  these  alternative  systems  remains  the  population   density  resulting  from  land  use  and  residential  planning,  which  has  led  to  heavy  reliance  on   existing  cars  for  daily  travel.  To  date,  ridesharing  networks  have  experienced  success  in  dense   urban  areas,  but  their  applicability  to  more  rural  situations  is  still  questionable.  We  are  unsure   whether  the  County  has  the  sheer  number  of  coast-­‐to-­‐coast  commuters  necessary  to  facilitate  a   rideshare  network  (although  shorter  rides  may  have  the  population  densities  required  to   support  the  system).  On  the  other  hand,  the  15%  of  islanders  who  carpool  present  a   substantially  larger  proportion  of  potential  ridesharers  and  vanpoolers  than  their  mainland   counterparts.   Currently,  there  is  a  small  Shared  Ride  Taxi  Program  managed  by  the  Mass  Transit  Agency,  which   charges  approximately  $2  per  coupon  for  four  miles,  or  two  coupons  ($4)  for  eight  miles.  The   County  reimburses  the  $2  to  the  driver  for  each  coupon  they  submit.  Many  of  the  independent   taxi  drivers  enrolling  in  the  program  cater  to  the  elderly  and  disabled  in  Hilo.  This  system  also   has  had  some  success  in  distributing  coupons  through  the  County  Prosecutor’s  Office  to  bars  to   discourage  drunk  driving  around  the  holiday  season.  However,  participation  is  limited  to  an   eight-­‐mile  radius  on  the  Hilo  side  of  the  island,  while  west-­‐coast  taxi  companies  usually  decline   applications  for  permits  because  the  returns  are  not  as  lucrative.141  Additionally,  passenger   registration  for  this  service  is  required  beforehand,  so  it  does  not  have  the  flexibility  of  a  real-­‐ time  demand-­‐response  rideshare  network.  The  greatest  potential  impacts  of  ridesharing  and   realized  cost  savings  depend  on  the  ability  of  a  newly  created  service  to  bring  adequate  long-­‐ distance  ridership  from  residential  clusters  in  Puna,  Hilo,  Waimea,  and  Ocean  View-­‐South  Kona   to  the  Kohala  Coast  and  Kona.  New  networks  are  not  meant  to  reduce  travel  time,  but  rather   provide  more  cost-­‐effective,  flexible  and  community-­‐oriented  commuting  alternatives.   BEST  PRACTICES  FOR  RIDESHARING  NETWORKS   We  studied  a  variety  of  existing  private  global  rideshare  networks  and  synthesized  a  set  of  best   practices  and  amenities  that  have  allowed  for  their  success.  We  determined  that  these  networks   have  become  increasingly  popular  in  attracting  ridership  both  domestically  and  abroad,  because   they  offer  the  user  a  specific  value  proposition:  avoiding  the  costs  and  congestion  of  individual   daily  commuting.  Lyft  now  provides  an  estimated  30,000  rides  per  week,142  while  UberX  has   launched  in  40  cities  around  the  world  in  the  last  three  years.143  Such  rapid  success  and   expansion  has  not  gone  unnoticed  –  venture  capital  firms  have  realized  that  such  networks   could  provide  substantial  returns  on  investment,  and  have  heavily  financed  these  networks  with   startup  capital.  Though  each  network  varies  in  its  marketing  and  branding  strategies,  the  general   design  of  these  systems  is  quite  similar:     70  |  Page     TYPICAL  COMPONENTS  OF  A  RIDESHARING  NETWORK     1) “Drivers”  and  “passengers”  each  create  log-­‐in  accounts  via  smartphone,  tablet  or   computer.  In  order  to  ensure  driver  safety  and  avoid  insurance  risks,  security   background  checks  are  completed  on  all  active  account  members  before  they  are   entered  into  the  system.  This  process  verifies  that  drivers  have  violation-­‐free  records   and  no  criminal  history.     2) Passengers  log  into  their  accounts  when  they  would  like  to  be  picked  up  for  a  ride  from   a  driver  who  has  made  plans  to  drive,  and  whose  route  coincides  with  the  passenger.   This  is  determined  through  GPS  real-­‐time  tracking  and  coordination  to  select  the  most   optimal  route  for  the  passenger  to  reach  their  destination.  The  passenger  is  presented   with  a  variety  of  choices  and  can  select  the  driver  who  best  meets  his  criteria  through   Driver  Ratings  and  Profile  Information  from  past  rides.  The  driver  is  then  notified  via  the   app  on  their  smart  device.   3) Upon  arrival  at  the  final  destination,  passengers  either  pay  “suggested  donations”  to  the   driver  based  on  their  level  of  satisfaction  with  trip,  or  are  charged  a  mileage  fee  directly   to  their  account  (which  is  connected  to  a  working  credit  card).  Factors  incorporated  into   donation  include  distance,  time  of  day,  duration  and  location,  with  the  company   retaining  a  percentage  of  the  donation.   4) Both  driver  and  passenger  have  the  option  to  leave  a  review  or  rating  for  each  other,  to   boost  their  membership  points  within  the  rideshare  network  and  expand  opportunities   for  later  rides.     OPTIMIZING  FEATURES   Ø Flexibility  of  scheduling:  The  best  systems  allow  drivers  and  passengers  to  make  plans   anywhere  from  a  week  in  advance  to  ten  minutes  prior  to  departure.  We  also   recommend  the  integration  of  calendar  functionality  to  notify  the  user  for  friendly   reminders  for  those  that  make  their  plans  in  advance.   Ø Matching  algorithm:  We  recommend  a  system  that  allows  the  driver  or  rider  to  filter  ride   requests  to  a  specific  drop-­‐off  location  or  area  (i.e.  setting  filter  to  only  accept  rides  that   end  near  your  work).  This  technology  was  first  utilized  successfully  by  Sidecar  in  San   Francisco.144     Ø Integrated  GPS:  GPS  real-­‐time  synchronization  and  information  tracking  between  Driver   and  Passenger  allows  the  rider  to  receive  up-­‐to-­‐the-­‐minute  details  regarding  departure,   arrival  and  current  status  of  the  trip.  Shared  data  alleviates  uncertainty  for  both  parties.   Ø Cancellation  and  Damage  Fees:  Regardless  of  whether  donations  are  voluntary  or   mileage  fees  are  mandatory,  cancellation  and  damage  fees  (penalty  payments  from   skipped  rideshare  arrangements  or  car  damages)  mitigate  the  risk  of  accident  or   inconvenience  on  the  part  of  the  driver  or  passenger.     Ø Marketing  promotions:  In  order  to  build  name  recognition  and  ease  skepticism  within   communities,  many  rideshare  networks  have  organized  promotional  and  philanthropic   events  and  bargains  upon  initial  expansion  to  a  new  coverage  zone.  UberX  expansion     71  |  Page     promotions  include  a  first  month  of  rides  free  of  charge  offered  to  new  users,  as  well  as   promotional  codes  and  sales  partnerships  with  retail  vendors  like  Stubhub  and   LivingSocial.145     Ø Useful  client  services:  automatic  fare-­‐splitting,  calculable  greenhouse  gas  emissions   saved,  and  account  management.   Ø Local  partnerships:  There  are  a  number  of  local  taxi  companies  in  Hilo  and  Kona,  most  of   which  do  not  operate  for  distances  greater  than  nine  miles  (intra-­‐town  only).  Rideshare   networks  can  partner  with  these  independent  taxi  companies  and  link  licensed  and   insured  drivers  to  customers  –  this  can  be  mutually  beneficial  in  allowing  the  networks  to   gain  initial  traction  by  exposure  to  taxi  customers,  while  attracting  new  business  to  taxi   services.  This  would  be  regulated  under  the  authority  of  the  Hawai`i  Public  Utilities   Commission,  and  is  already  practiced  with  UberX  in  Honolulu.146[147].   Ø Long-­‐term  integration  of  ridesharing  networks  with  other  nearby  transportation   alternatives:  Existing  software  applications  like  Ridescout  incorporate  GPS  real-­‐time   tracking  and  scheduling  with  bus,  rail,  taxi,  Sidecar  (rideshare)  and  bike  sharing  networks   in  close  proximity.  This  would  allow  for  users  to  assess  the  cheapest  and  most  efficient   nearby  transportation  options  while  simultaneously  reducing  uncertainty  for  these   services  (last-­‐five-­‐miles  compatibility).148  This  implementation  would  be  contingent  upon   GPS  coordination  and  installation  on  an  island-­‐wide  scale.   CONSIDERATIONS  FOR  ESTABLISHING  A  RIDESHARE  NETWORK  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND   The  following  section  clarifies  the  regulations  and  policies  essential  for  creating  a  viable   environment  for  the  network  to  thrive.  In  addition,  the  section  outlines  funding  concerns  and   startup  costs,  steps  for  implementation,  and  possible  barriers  to  overcome.     POLICIES  IN  EXISTENCE   In  order  to  apply  for  grants,  an  individual,  non-­‐governmental  organization  or  public  entity  must   formalize  a  proposal  to  the  Hawai`i  Department  of  Transportation,  who  will  subsequently   evaluate  the  proposal  before  granting  the  request,  or  submitting  to  the  federal  Department  of   Transportation  for  prioritization.   EMPLOYER-­‐RELATED  SUBSIDIES   Employer-­‐related  subsidies  can  increase  productivity  by  promoting  commuter  habits  that   reduce  employee  absenteeism  and  late  arrivals,  while  saving  on  overhead  costs  associated  with   maintaining  parking  through  the  encouragement  of  carpools.  Employees  and  businesses  must   be  enrolled  in  the  federal  Transportation  Incentive  Program  (TIP)  in  order  to  benefit  from   commuting  incentives.   COMMUTER  TAX  BENEFITS  PROGRAM   This  program,  which  is  introduced  in  the  Ground  Transportation  on  Hawai`i  Island  and  Other   Rural  Localities  section,  reduces  payroll  taxes  by  allowing  employees  to  use  pre-­‐tax  dollars  for     72  |  Page     transport  as  subsidies  for  carpooling.  It  applies  to  work-­‐related  trips  taken  on  a  bus,  rail,   subway,  ferry,  subscription  bus,  shuttle,  vanpool,  or  rideshare  network.  Employers  can  structure   the  benefits  in  three  ways:149   Ø Provision  of  transit  passes,  vanpool  vouchers  or  cash  reimbursement  directly  to  employees.   Businesses  can  deduct  up  to  $130  per  month  per  employee  for  any  qualified  commuting   subsidy  as  a  normal  business  expense,  nontaxable  to  the  employee.   Ø Employers  can  set  aside  their  employees’  pre-­‐tax  income  amount  used  for  qualified   commuting  expenses,  up  to  a  maximum  of  $130  per  month  before  payroll  taxes;  taxes  are   paid  on  this  reduced  amount  of  the  employees’  salary.   Ø Employers  can  pay  both  part  of  an  employee’s  commuting  costs,  deducting  that  amount,   then  deduct  the  remaining  cost  up  to  $130  per  month  per  employee  from  their  salary   before  calculating  taxes.   Businesses  and  regional  authorities  must  ensure  that  tax  benefits  apply  to  user  rideshare   payments.   GUARANTEED  RIDE  HOME  PROGRAM  (GRHP)   This  regionally  based  program  exists  for  commuters  who  vanpool,  carpool,  bike,  walk  or  take   public  transit  –  it  exists  as  an  emergency  or  contingency  plan  for  getting  home.  Operated  by  the   local  transit  authorities  (Mass  Transit  Agency),  it  is  relatively  inexpensive  to  implement.  For   many  businesses,  participation  in  a  GRHP  is  free  for  employers.  The  program  requires   employees  to  commute  alternatively  to  work  a  minimum  number  of  times  each  week,  and  in   return  allows  a  ride  home  either  by  taxi  or  rental  car  up  to  an  annual  ride  limit  (usually  between   two  to  eight  rides).  Payment  for  the  ride  is  either  reimbursed  by  the  sponsoring  agency  or   employer-­‐paid  to  the  transit  provider  in  the  form  of  a  small  annual  base  rate  determined  by  size   of  the  company  work  force.  The  sponsoring  agency  sets  program  eligibility  criteria,  allowable   destinations  and  maximum  distance,  service  hours,  payment  method,  membership  fees  and   program  procedures.150  Companies  must  register  for  the  program  on  an  individual  basis,  usually   coordinated  through  the  region’s  respective  regional  transit  authority.  An  FTA  study  of  regional   GRHPs  in  2006  revealed  a  median  cost  per  claim  of  $36.95  and  a  median  cost  per  registrant  of   $0.35;  the  average  amount  of  time  spent  weekly  to  manage  the  program  (per  100  participants)   was  only  15  minutes  in  rural  areas.151     The  benefits  expand  business  service  hours  without  increasing  costs  by  allowing  flexible  or   staggered  work  hours  only  available  through  increased  access  to  transportation  alternatives   (such  as  ridesharing).  Furthermore,  businesses  that  actively  participate  in  transportation   planning  initiatives  have  the  opportunity  to  network  with  other  businesses  and  entities  with  a   stake,  making  them  well  positioned  to  voice  their  priorities.  Other  states  (such  as  Maryland  and   Minnesota)  have  implemented  their  own  state  tax  credit  initiatives  allowing  businesses  to  claim   a  tax  credit  for  a  percentage  of  what  employers  have  contributed  towards  commuting  costs.     73  |  Page     Either  way,  these  federal  subsidy  programs  offer  substantial  dividends  to  businesses  that  utilize   them.152   This  program  is  important  to  providing  reliability  and  flexibility  in  extending  contingency   coverage  for  long-­‐distance  commuters.  The  successful  implementation  and  desirability  of  the   network  relies  on  the  strength  of  its  service  convenience  and  certainty,  so  this  type  of  benefit   could  attract  new  ridership  and  substantial  business  registration.  However,  it  is  important  not  to   overstate  this  program  as  a  strong  ridesharing  incentive  –  most  regional  programs  only  offer  a   severely  restricted  annual  ride  limit.  Additionally,  Hawai`i  County’s  geographic  location  and  lack   of  state  transportation  demand  management  (TDM)  initiatives  will  be  a  difficult  obstacle  to   overcome  in  terms  of  adequate  program  funding.  Funding  for  the  program  varies  by  region,  but   can  either  be  supplemented  with  state  and  federal  monies,  or  completely  supported  by  the   private  sector  or  through  grants  from  local  organizations.  Funding  may  prove  difficult  for  Hawai`i   County  –  most  federal  grants  are  only  available  for  congestion  mitigation  initiatives  in  more   dense  areas,  or  programs  addressing  transit  for  the  disabled.153   PARKING  INCENTIVES   Preferential  parking  incentives  may  also  be  used  to  promote  carpooling  and  ridesharing   networks  for  work.  This  may  include  reduced  fees  for  parking,  or  designated  rideshare  parking   spaces  located  close  to  places  of  work.   STATE  CAR-­‐SHARING  VEHICLE  SURCHARGE  TAX:  HB1894  &  SB2731   (Pending  Final  Review  as  of  1/31/14)  154     These  proposed  bills,  passed  on  first  reading  in  both  the  Hawai`i  House  and  Senate,  require  a   vehicle  surcharge  tax  (current  amount  undecided)  to  be  levied  upon  all  vehicles  used  by   members  of  car-­‐sharing  organizations  each  month.  Additionally,  a  $20  first-­‐time  registration  fee   also  must  be  issued  to  the  person  who  registers  the  vehicle.  Currently,  the  definition  “car-­‐ sharing  organization”  is  too  narrow,  and  specifying  the  term  with  regard  to  peer-­‐to-­‐peer   ridesharing  programs  would  have  substantial  implications  moving  forward  into  the  future.     Official  acknowledgement  of  the  emerging  car-­‐share  (rideshare)  market  as  “a  green   transportation  innovation  that  can  significantly  reduce  vehicle  miles  traveled,  oil  imports,   greenhouse  gas  emissions,  and  household  transportation  costs  for  residents”155  could  be   instrumental  in  establishing  a  precedent  for  encouraging  competition  and  development  within   the  state,  but  the  imposed  tax  could  also  be  another  way  to  discourage  new  users  from   registering  vehicles  with  car-­‐sharing  organizations  by  treating  them  like  a  public  utility.   In  addition,  the  2007  state  legislature  passed  HB869,  the  Energy  Efficient  Transportation   Strategy  Act,  signed  into  law  as  Act  254  –  it  requires  strategic  professional  working  groups  to   develop  strategies  that  optimize  energy  usage  in  the  transportation  sector.  It  highlights   carpool/vanpool  programs,  government  subsidies  and  marketing  campaigns  as  essential   strategies  in  offering  more  choices  in  mode  of  travel.156  While  there  is  still  a  disconnect  between     74  |  Page     level  of  state  governmental  commitment/funding  and  actual  prioritization,  the  past  five  years   have  seen  forward  steps  in  recognizing  ridesharing  as  a  viable  entity  moving  into  the  future,   which  may  coincide  well  with  the  timing  for  rollout  of  Requests  for  Proposals  (RFPs)  or  setting   up  vendor  contracts.       Together,  these  pieces  of  legislation  could  reduce  economic  and  social  uncertainty  and  set  a   standard  that  recognizes  the  ridesharing  network  as  a  functioning  transportation  entity,  while   fostering  support  from  legislators  by  generating  additional  revenue  for  the  state.  However,  in   order  to  encourage  expansion,  there  must  be  further  legislative  clarification  whether  or  not   these  companies  will  be  grouped  into  the  same  categories  as  existing  public  utilities,  and   elaborate  on  which  services  and  practices  will  be  allowed.  In  California,  a  September  2013   legislative  ruling  legally  authorized  ridesharing  entities  within  the  purview  of  the  state  public   utility  commission;  the  ruling  was  hailed  as  a  success  by  existing  Transportation  Network   Companies  (TNCs),  which  could  operate  more  freely  without  having  to  comply  with  the  same   restrictions  as  traditional  transit.157  If  ridesharing  companies  are  legally  established  with   properly  defined  regulatory  guidelines,  it  could  be  a  major  boon  in  attracting  rideshare   expansion  to  the  county,  and  perhaps  even  expand  the  capacity  for  allocating  tax  incentives  to   employers  and  commuters  as  more  revenue  is  generated  from  these  enterprises.   NETWORK  MANAGEMENT   TRANSPORTATION  MANAGEMENT  ASSOCIATIONS   Transportation  Management  Associations  (TMAs)  are  nonprofit,  member-­‐controlled   organizations  that  coordinate  transportation,  vanpool,  and  rideshare  services  between  regional   businesses  –  these  coordinated  regional  authorities  are  established  by  a  sponsoring  agency,   usually  a  state,  regional  or  county  transportation  board,  metropolitan  planning  organization   (MPO),  or  regional  Council  of  Governments  (COG).  Private  enterprises  that  wish  to  join  a  TMA   are  accepted  on  an  individual  basis  and  are  allowed  to  share  the  federally  recognized  benefits  of   commuter-­‐oriented  ridesharing  and  carpooling.  This  organization  can  be  structured  as  follows:     Ø A  Hawai`i  County  Transportation  Management  Association  could  be  established  by  the   County  of  Hawai`i  and  Mass  Transit  Agency  with  input  from  the  Hawai`i  County  Economic   Opportunity  Council,  the  Energy  Coordinator,  the  Planning  &  Economic  Development   Department,  and  the  Research  &  Development  division.   Ø Transportation  planning  within  a  TMA  should  be  an  inclusive  process,  considering  the   perspective  of  various  stakeholders  including,  but  not  limited  to:  users,  citizens/taxpayers,   impacted  residents,  businesses,  employees/workers,  public  officials,  affected   organizations/interest  groups.   Ø Among  the  responsibilities  of  the  TMA  are  commute  trip  reduction,  commuter  financial   incentives,  flextime  support,  parking  management  and  brokerage,  rideshare  matching  and   vanpool  coordination,  shuttle  services,  special  event  transport  management,  and  tourist   transport  management.158     75  |  Page     Ø Regional  or  local  governments,  chambers  of  commerce,  or  developers  of  a  major  facility   usually  provide  seed  funding.  TMAs  are  generally  funded  through  member  fees  paid  by   businesses  and  government  transportation  grants.   Ø A  Board  of  Directors  may  be  necessary  to  oversee  administrative  responsibilities  of  the  TMA   –  this  Board  should  consist  of  members  from  the  business  community,  transportation  and   economic  development  government  officials  at  the  County  level,  as  well  as  Chamber  of   Commerce  representatives  from  both  Kailua-­‐  Kona  and  Hilo.     It  is  important  to  note  that  there  is  an  inherent  tradeoff  involved.  Establishment  of  a  federally   recognized  Transportation  Management  Association  (TMA)  offers  benefits  for  increasing  the   infrastructure  around  ridesharing,  specifically  for  employees  and  commuters,  as  this  type  of   arrangement  makes  Commuter  Tax  Benefits  and  the  Guaranteed  Ride  Home  Program  available   and  much  easier  to  facilitate.  TMAs  provide  the  organizational  structure  necessary  to  gauge   potential  ridership  from  alternative  commuting  programs,  garner  public  interest  around  new   network  opportunities,  and  work  cooperatively  to  identify  new  company  registrants  and  apply   for  external  funding.  However,  it  may  be  much  more  difficult  to  establish  a  TMA  in  a  rural   county  with  a  dispersed  population  distribution  and  limited  accessibility  to  public  services  and   utilities.  Because  TMAs  rely  on  a  structured  public-­‐private  partnership  with  registered  users   stored  and  detailed  in  an  online  database,  the  county’s  high  percentage  of  socially  and   technologically  isolated  communities  (like  Puna)  may  impede  transition  to  such  a  system.   There  are  also  tradeoffs  as  to  which  public  entity  should  partially  administer  the  ridesharing   network.  The  Mass  Transit  Agency  is  already  in  existence,  but  would  require  additional  staff   members  because  the  current  staff  must  focus  on  operating  the  Hele-­‐On  bus  systems.  Any   additional  responsibilities  would  require  at  least  two  new  coordinating  positions  in  order  to   spearhead  funding  and  oversight.  While  a  Transportation  Management  Association  or   Metropolitan  Planning  Organization  might  be  a  better  long-­‐term  option  in  terms  of  its  broad   capacity  for  coordination  and  outreach/participation  among  key  officials  and  business  leaders,   there  are  no  current  authorities  in  existence  in  Hawai`i  County  –  any  effort  to  establish  such  an   entity  would  require  time  and  more  capital  than  adding  duties  to  the  existing  agency.   TMA  budgetary  data  from  1998  showed  that  California  TMAs  averaged  $140,833  in  expenses   (office  operations,  marketing  and  promotions,  capital  services,  other  services),  while  yielding   $152,941  in  revenue  (member  dues,  grants  and  subsidies,  service  fees,  developer  funding   agreements).159   There  are  venture  capital  firms  that  have  invested  in  early  financing  rounds  for  existing  TNCs.   Many  of  the  companies  invest  in  seed,  series  a/b  and  growth  stages  of  development;  many  of   the  companies  also  consult  with  a  design,  marketing,  recruiting  and  engineering  perspective   with  portfolio  companies  in  order  to  maximize  financial  return.  Refer  to  Appendix  F  for  more   information  on  investors  and  existing  rideshare  companies.   A  complete  list  of  national  TMAs  and  their  corresponding  websites  are  listed  in  Appendix  E.160     76  |  Page     PUBLIC-­‐PRIVATE  PARTNERSHIPS  (PPP  OR  P3)   Public-­‐private  partnerships  (PPP  or  P3)  represent  a  bright  future  for  the  funding  of   transportation  projects  and  may  prove  advantageous  to  long-­‐term  ridesharing  solutions  for   Hawai`i  Island.  These  public-­‐private  partnerships  make  it  possible  for  transit  agencies  or   transportation  projects  to  find  integrative  and  comprehensive  solutions  without  driving  up   fares.  The  agencies’  main  objective  is  not  so  much  profits,  but  rather  to  address  mandates  from   government  to  reduce  congestion,  air  quality  and  greenhouse  gas  emissions.  In  a  P3  agreement,   projects  are  privately  financed  with  the  transit  agency  maintaining  full  or  partial  control  of  the   project.  The  private  partner  will  assume  all  or  part  of  the  financial  risk  in  exchange  for  a  share  of   potential  profits.161     Public-­‐private  partnership  agreements  must  clearly  define  Key  Performance  Indicators  (KPIs),   which  serve  as  the  basis  for  payment  and  ensuring  that  the  partner  is  addressing  the  needs  of   the  public  agency.  Partners  should  also  have  a  history  of  demonstrable  experience  in  providing   technical  support  and  efficient  delivery  or  functionality  in  production.   ADVANTAGES  OF  P3  SYSTEM:162   Ø Risk  Transfer  –  private  partners  assume  responsibility  for  delivering  at  a  fixed  price  by  a   predefined  date.   Ø Accelerated  Project  Delivery  –  these  agreements  usually  employ  a  design-­‐build  contract   approach,  as  opposed  to  design-­‐bid-­‐build  procurement  process  that  often  expands  the   timeline  of  the  project.   Ø External  Funding/Lower  Operating  Costs  and  Higher  non-­‐transit  revenues  –  transit  agencies   shift  financial  burden  to  private  partners,  which  allow  for  consistently  low  fares  while  both   parties  profit.   Ø Private  Partner  Networks  –  private  partners  can  potentially  improve  and  streamline   rideshare  networks  by  leveraging  past  experiences,  established  services,  standard   administrative  tasks,  business  processes  and  connections.   DISADVANTAGES  OF  P3  SYSTEM:163   Ø Transit  agency  must  cede  certain  elements  of  control  in  order  to  acquire  adequate  funding   and  other  benefits;  depends  on  which  partner  is  interested  in  retaining  primary  authority.   Ø Risk  Transfer  –  there  are  certain  risks  that  private  partners  will  not  assume,  including   changes  in  law,  and  interference  or  approval  by  third-­‐party  governmental  entities.   Ø Most  P3  projects  to  date  have  been  implemented  for  transit  solutions  and  improvements,   rather  than  establishment  of  new  rideshare  networks.   HAWAI`I  PUBLIC  UTILITIES  COMMISSION   The  Hawai`i  Public  Utilities  Commission  (HPUC)  should  be  involved  the  establishment  of  a   ridesharing  network  as  regulatory  authority.  In  order  to  attract  private  growth,  investment  and   economic  certainty  of  an  existing  network,  the  state  should  legally  recognize  ridesharing  as  a   separate  entity  –  this  provides  legitimacy  to  the  shared  economy,  and  thus  allows  the  HPUC  to     77  |  Page     standardize  a  set  of  rules  for  transportation  network  companies  (TNCs).  As  the  national  leader  in   peer-­‐to-­‐peer  ridesharing  networks,  California  has  experienced  rapid  cultivation,  expansion  and   adoption  of  various  networks  throughout  the  state,  and  as  a  result  has  recently  become  the  first   state  to  adopt  standards  for  ridesharing  networks.  In  order  to  acquire  a  license  from  the   California  Public  Utility  Commission,  TNC  services  were  mandated  to  provide  a  minimum  of  $1   million  in  insurance  coverage,  vehicle  inspections,  driver  training  programs,  and  a  zero-­‐tolerance   drug  and  alcohol  policy.164     RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  AN  EXISTING  RIDESHARE  NETWORK  (TNC)   Existing  ridesharing  companies,  like  UberX  and  Lyft,  have  the  flexibility  and  could  work  within   the  framework  of  an  island  environment,  as  they  require  only  GPS  technology,  cars,  community,   and  little  additional  capital.  Administrative  oversight  and  long-­‐term  recognition  of  these  entities   by  the  state  public  utility  commission,  an  established  Transportation  Management  Association,   the  state  transportation  office  (Rural  Transit  Assistance  Program),  or  Mass  Transit  Agency  would   be  necessary  to  ensure  growth  and  success  into  the  future,  if  a  public-­‐private  partnership  is  not   sought  out.  However,  UberX  introduced  their  service  to  Oahu  with  a  “soft  launch”  in  2013.  The   company  is  testing  out  promotional  specials  and  experimenting  with  prices  to  meet  an  optimal   demand  for  the  island.   Because  there  are  no  existing  TNCs  on  the  island,  we  recommend  that  the  County  issue  a   Request  for  Proposal  (RFP)  to  mainland  companies  if  they  wish  to  connect  with  s  an  existing   service.  We  cannot  say  with  certainty  whether  one  peer-­‐to-­‐peer  mobile  service  works  more   efficiently  for  this  unique  situation  than  another,  so  we  should  allow  them  to  compete  in  a   bidding  process  for  procurement.  The  County  can  prioritize  key  attributes  that  they  desire  in  a   rideshare  network  (minimizing  costs  to  user  and  public,  service  convenience/flexibility/   frequency,  ease  of  administration,  technological  requirements,  capital  required,  socially   equitable,  etc.)  and  let  the  TNCs  compete.  Appendix  F  provides  a  table  with  information  on   existing  rideshare  mobility  providers  for  reference  during  the  RFP  process.     OPPORTUNITY:  ESTABLISHING  A  VANPOOL  NETWORK   Vanpool  networks  are  an  attractive  transit  alternative  to  establishing  a  rideshare  network  on   Hawai`i  Island.  A  vanpool  network  on  Hawai`i  Island  would  ostensibly  serve  long-­‐distance   commuters  along  a  designated  route  with  hubs  at  both  ends.  The  Vanpool  Hawai`i  system   originally  implemented  around  Honolulu  utilized  a  third-­‐party  provider  to  provide  cost-­‐efficient   rides  to  both  commuters  and  daily  travelers.  In  order  for  this  type  of  network  to  attract  an   adequate  base  of  commuters,  costs  must  be  subsidized  by  federal  policies  while  the  vans  must   be  flexible  enough  to  reach  individual  homes  as  well  as  central  nodes.  However,  this  type  of   funding  is  not  readily  available;  residents  and  businesses  could  look  to  private  vendor  VRide  if   they  wish  to  procure  vanpool  services,  which  already  serve  the  island.       78  |  Page     VANPOOL  NETWORK  STRUCTURES   Federal  policies  have  encouraged  businesses  to  develop  alternative  methods  of  work   commuting  (Guaranteed  Ride  Home,  Commuter  Tax  Benefits).  As  a  result  vanpool  networks   have  been  expanded  in  many  regions  in  order  to  efficiently  sustain  a  mobile  working   community.  Company  vanpool  protocols  have  been  shown  to  save  on  parking  costs  by   decreasing  the  number  of  individual  employee  drivers,  expand  company  recruitment  options   through  better  networking,  reduce  employee  absenteeism,  promote  companies  as  employee-­‐ friendly,  as  well  as  reduce  travel  costs  for  workers.165  There  are  three  possible  frameworks  for   coordination  of  employee  vanpool  systems:166   Ø Employer-­‐sponsored  or  operated  programs  where  vans  are  leased  and  insurance  is  obtained   through  the  company’s  regular  fleet  policy.   Ø Third-­‐party  providers  (such  as  VPSI  Inc.,  LOTMA,  or  2Plus)  where  the  employer  contracts   with  a  private  company  or  organization  to  provide  the  vanpool  service  –  this  includes   purchasing  or  leasing  the  actual  vans,  vehicle  liability  and  collision  coverage,  forming   vanpool  groups,  program  administration,  marketing,  and  van  maintenance.   Ø Individually  owned  and  operated  vanpools  where  the  employee  owns  and  maintains  the   van,  coordinating  daily  operation  of  the  vanpool.  Rider  fares  cover  the  purchase  and   maintenance  costs  of  the  van.   Riders  usually  meet  at  a  designated  location  (shopping  center  parking  lot,  church,  park-­‐and-­‐ride   location,  etc.)  –  from  there,  vans  can  either  have  one  or  several  pick-­‐up  and  drop-­‐off  points.   There  are  determined  starting  and  ending  nodes  for  both  morning  and  evening  commutes  for  all   weekdays.167    This  could  also  be  expanded  to  include  commutes  on  weekend  days.   BEST  PRACTICES  FOR  VANPOOLING  NETWORKS   The  Transportation  to  Work  toolkit168  emphasizes  Keys  to  Success  for  vanpool  programs   nationwide  through  comprehensive  case  studies.  They  have  summarized  that  the  strongest   elements  of  successful  systems  include  development  of  innovative  partnerships,  involvement  of   area  employers,  understanding  the  unique  needs  of  communities,  obtaining  political  support   from  local  officials,  emphasis  on  ease  of  use  for  businesses  and  commuters,  as  well  as  ensuring   flexibility  in  guaranteed  rides.   Ø Drivers  workshops,  background  checks  to  ensure  safe  driving;  reduced  fees  for  drivers   Ø Optimum  capacity  for  vans  should  be  anywhere  between  4-­‐15  people,  depending  on  route   and  travel  demand.  The  minimum  of  four  riders  ensures  that  fares  will  be  kept  low  due  to   shared  cost.   Ø Timing  of  funding  cycles  can  significantly  affect  start-­‐up  goals  –  county  officials  should   consider  the  costs  associated  with  promotional  materials,  outreach  and  partnership   development.     79  |  Page     Ø Employees  and  business  owners  should  both  be  consulted  when  developing  time/route   schedules,  even  if  the  service  is  to  be  provided  through  a  third  party  contract.  This  ensures   that  adequate  attention  is  paid  to  meeting  geographical  transportation  demand.   Ø Optional  fuel  card  program  and  either  monthly  fares  or  flexible  pay-­‐as-­‐you-­‐go  agreements   that  cover  costs  of  the  van,  insurance,  roadside  assistance,  and  emergency  rides.  In  a  third   party  system,  private  companies  will  recruit  the  drivers.   Ø Online  account  and  database  which  tracks  daily  van  routes  along  a  map   FUNDING  A  VANPOOL  NETWORK   In  the  past,  funding  for  Transportation  Management  Association  (TMA)  vanpool  networks  has   been  allocated  via  voter-­‐approved  sales  taxes  or  federal  grants  from  the  Federal  Transit   Administration.  While  a  majority  of  the  funding  goes  towards  administrative  duties  and   oversight  through  state  agencies,  Metropolitan  Planning  Organizations  (MPOs)  or  TMAs,  most   federal  funding  allows  for  up  to  50%  of  the  total  allocations  to  be  kept  for  the  vanpool   operations  themselves.  In  addition,  some  states  have  their  own  Vanpool  Investment  Funds;   Washington  uses  such  a  fund  in  order  to  enable  regional  TMAs  to  put  vans  into  operation,  with   costs  (fuel,  maintenance,  insurance)  being  recovered  through  fares  and  federal  subsidization.169     There  are  three  primary  channels  of  federal  funding  available  for  the  County  of  Hawai`i  to   establish  its  own  network,  all  enacted  through  the  U.S.  Department  of  Transportation’s  Safe   Accountable  Flexible  Efficient  Transportation  Equity  Act  (SAFETEA-­‐LU):   Keeping  these  funding  channels  available  is  essential  if  the  County  wishes  to  administer  its  own   vanpool  program.  However,  it  is  important  to  note  that  the  Hawai`i  County  Economic   Opportunity  Council  has  had  some  recent  difficulty  with  securing  funding  through  the  Job  Access   and  Reverse  Commute  Program  (discussed  below)  for  an  additional  vanpool  vehicle  to  take   commuters  from  Ocean  View  to  the  major  work  hub  along  the  Kohala  Coast.170  Actual  monthly   savings  are  still  realized  (between  $120-­‐$160  per  month  to  the  user),  but  there  are  currently   only  1,600  estimated  vanpoolers  statewide.171  The  Hawai`i  Department  of  Transportation   currently  only  sets  aside  a  small  portion  of  funding  through  its  Rural  Transit  Assistance  Program   for  vanpool  driver  training  scholarships,  while  responsibility  has  been  ceded  to  a  third  party   (VRide)  for  network  operations.  This,  coupled  with  the  state’s  discontinuation  of  the  Vanpool   Hawai`i  program  altogether,  highlights  the  difficulties  of  subsidizing  and  prioritizing  county   transit  efforts  despite  public  interest  in  alternative  commuter  networks.   FORMULA  GRANTS  FOR  OTHER  THAN  URBANIZED  AREAS  (SECTION  5311  GRANTS)172     Federal  discretionary  funding  is  also  available  to  states  for  supporting  public  transportation  in   rural  areas  with  populations  of  less  than  50,000.  These  projects  must  demonstrate   enhancement  of  accessibility  to  health  care,  shopping,  education,  and  employment,  and  can   improve  existing  systems,  while  encouraging  the  most  efficient  use  of  coordinated  services  and   networks.  The  funding  also  seeks  out  support  for  private  transportation  providers  in  low-­‐ population  areas.  The  federal  share  of  capital  expenses  may  not  exceed  80%,  while  the  share  of     80  |  Page     operating  costs  should  not  exceed  50%.  Funding  is  apportioned  by  a  formula  using  census   information  and  analyzing  land  area,  administered  through  the  Federal  Transit  Authority.  In   2012,  there  was  $40.1  million  appropriated  to  Hawai`i  through  these  grants.   JOB  ACCESS  AND  REVERSE  COMMUTE  PROGRAM  (JARC  SECTION  5316  FUNDS)173     This  Federal  Transit  Authority-­‐authorized  program  was  established  to  address  the   transportation  challenges  faced  by  low-­‐income  workers  seeking  to  obtain  and  maintain   employment  to  moderate  success.  Eligible  recipients  are  state  and  public  entities,  private   nonprofits,  and  private  operators,  who  are  working  to  enhance  mobility  of  these  disadvantaged   communities  through  transporting  people  to  and  from  work.  In  2007,  there  was  $59.6  million   allocated  nationally,  with  20%  given  to  small  urbanized  areas  and  20%  apportioned  for  rural   areas.  Potential  program  candidates  currently  must  apply  individually  to  receive  funding.     RECOMMENDATIONS   CREATING  A  RIDESHARE  NETWORK  ON  HAWAI`I  ISLAND     BUSINESS  MODEL   We  have  developed  the  business  model  represented  in  Figure  7-­‐1.  The  following  section  will   discuss  the  key  elements  we  have  highlighted  below.   Figure  7-­‐1:  Public-­‐Private  Partnership  Rideshare  Network  Business  Model     Value&Driven,Investors Independent,Taxi, Companies Transit,Authority Key$Partners Mobile,phones,,tablets,, Cloud&based,support Key$Activities Acquiring,funding,and, private,investment Platform,,database,, account,development GPS,calibration,&, coordination Application,software, development Possible,partnerships, with,taxi,companies Marketing,&,outreach Key$Resources Technology, infrastructure Ridesharing,Community Cost$Structure Development,phase, (GPS,,ridematch, platform,,tech,support,, marketing) Regional,transit,authority, consolidation/administra tion Cost,of,driving,(gas,, maintenance) Suggested,minimum,+, per,mile,passenger, donations Advertising/promotional, deals,and,events,, partnerships,with, existing,vendors Existing,commuter,and, business,tax,incentives Value$Propositions Connectivity,,community,, networking,potential Reduced,cost,of, individual,travel Carpool,engagement,is, friendly,,safe,, personalized,,flexible Revenue$Streams Customer$Relationships Customer$Segments Same&side,network,effect,, (drivers,and,riders, mutually,beneficial)Private,partner&public, agency,intercoordination Channels Mobile,Application Online,Calendar, Automation Website Rideshare,Board County&wide,commuters Employers Advertisers,and, Marketers Tourists   81  |  Page     KEY  PARTNERS   The  network  should  be  comprised  of  the  following  groups  of  suppliers  and  strategic  partners:   1) A  transit  authority  or  Transportation  Management  Association  is  necessary  for   administrative  coordination,  daily  functionality  and  management  of  an  online  account   database  of  users.  Within  a  public-­‐private  partnership  (P3)  framework,  the  public  agency   must  cede  a  majority  of  its  control  to  the  private  investor.  Another  possibility  is  for  the   private  entity  to  engage  in  a  partnership  with  the  local  university  (University  of  Hawai`i  at   Hilo)  to  facilitate  transportation  for  students,  faculty  and  workers.   2) Value-­‐driven  entrepreneurs,  like  the  Rideshare  Company,  Cubic,  TwoGo  and  Trapeze  will  be   necessary  to  finance  initial  startup  costs  of  GPS,  account  and  software  development,   technical  support  and  marketing  –  as  well  as  provide  support  and  guidance  to  the   necessary  administrative  agency.     3) Independent  taxi  companies  could  be  subcontracted  to  build  more  of  an  initial  client  base   while  maintaining  friendly  relations  and  a  mutually  beneficial  with  this  industry.  This  is   more  of  a  long-­‐term  goal,  as  taxi  systems  would  have  to  be  calibrated  with  GPS  technology   and  ridesharing  payment  options  in  order  for  drivers  to  pick  up  multiple  riders  and  split   fares.  Costs  would  also  have  to  come  down  considerably.   KEY  ACTIVITIES     A  key  advantage  of  the  P3  structure  over  a  traditional  TNC  company  will  be  forgoing  the  tedious   process  of  securing  and  sourcing  funds,  from  venture  capital  groups  as  well  as  the  federal   funding  sources  mentioned  above  –  this  is  essential  in  the  earliest  stages  of  development,  where   the  most  technical  support  and  administrative  coordination  is  needed.  There  may  need  to  be   some  external  sourcing  of  funding  in  order  to  partially  cover  the  cost  of  compensation  to  the   vendor,  but  usually  the  third  party  has  the  expertise  to  guide  the  agency  in  finding  available   financial  assistance.  In  addition,  the  network  must  maintain  platform  and  account  development   (keeping  up  a  functioning  and  accessible  database  which  screens  users  and  provides  feedback),   GPS  calibration  and  coordination  between  drivers  and  riders,  application  software  development,   and  marketing/outreach  to  garner  interest.     Marketing  and  outreach  should  account  for  a  substantial  portion  of  developing  a  consistent   customer  base.  Press  releases  in  local  newspapers,  emails  to  community  groups,  promotional   deals  broadcasted  via  radio,  and  in-­‐person  tabling  in  populous  areas  to  disseminate  information   and  greet  potential  riders.   KEY  RESOURCES     The  success  of  the  network  will  rely  on  technology  infrastructure  (both  through  mobile  and   computer-­‐based  users  and  the  interactive  platform,  which  links  them  to  rideshare  information),   an  easy-­‐to-­‐use  payment  option  linked  to  credit  card  information,  the  enthusiasm  and  network   support  of  drivers  and  riders  alike,  and  an  accessible  and  attractive  interface.       82  |  Page     VALUE  PROPOSITIONS     Ultimately,  the  rideshare  networks  should  be  marketed  in  a  way  that  emphasizes  connectivity   and  networking  potential  with  the  surrounding  community  (i.e.  island  pride  and  heritage  in   community).  Additionally,  ridesharing  saves  the  cost  of  individual  travel,  while  allowing   commuters  to  engage  and  carpool  in  a  friendly  and  safe  environment  with  a  personalized   service.  It  should  also  be  emphasized  that  drivers  can  actually  make  a  profit  based  on  distance   and  the  number  of  carpoolers  they  select.   CUSTOMER  RELATIONSHIPS     Same-­‐side  network  effects  exist  where  both  drivers  and  riders  benefit  from  a  shared  system.   The  business  will  benefit  from  increased  usage  and  operation  streamlining  as  the  network   expands  and  gets  increasing  exposure.  There  must  also  be  a  positive  working  relationship   between  private  partner  and  public  agency,  where  the  responsibilities  and  duties  of  both  parties   are  clearly  defined  prior  to  implementation.   CHANNELS     It  is  important  to  consider  the  way  in  which  the  network  communicates  and  targets  customer   segments.  It  should  rely  on  a  functional  mobile  application,  calendar  automation  (i.e.  Google   calendar  notification),  as  well  as  a  website  for  those  without  access  to  smart  phones  or  tablets.     A  rideshare  board  might  also  be  useful  for  residents  with  limited  internet  access  in  order  for   residents  to  either  register  for  the  service,  or  find  out  when  rides  are  departing/entering  their   locale.     CUSTOMER  SEGMENTS     Primarily  this  service  will  be  targeted  at  island  commuters  and  employers.  Other  prospective   targets  include  tourists,  university  and  high  school  students,  university  faculty  and  staff.   COST  STRUCTURE     If  the  County  opts  to  enter  into  agreement  with  a  private  vendor  (via  a  public-­‐private   partnership),  that  vendor  will  cover  operational  expenses  and  technical  support  in  exchange  for   compensation  for  fare  revenue  and  software  costs.  For  reference,  a  Regional  Rideshare   interface  and  online  ridematching  platform  in  the  Los  Angeles  metropolitan  area  through  the   Trapeze  Group’s  RidePro  program  cost  a  total  of  $208,929;  the  Riverside  County  Transportation   Commission  paid  $81,553,  while  the  national  Mobile  Source  Air  Pollution  Reduction  Review   Committee  (MSRC)  covered  $127,376,  through  the  state  of  California’s  discretionary  funds.174   From  there,  most  of  the  cost  is  incurred  upon  the  drivers,  who  would  normally  pay  for  gasoline   and  car  maintenance  from  commuting  anyway.  The  attractiveness  of  the  network  is  the  shared   (reduced)  cost  of  commuting  through  encouraged  carpooling  and  accessibility  to  ride   information.       83  |  Page     REVENUE  STREAMS     Because  the  system  relies  on  “suggested”  donations  to  the  driver  (average  of  $0.13/mile  based   on  existing  systems)  to  cover  gas  and  car  maintenance,  actual  revenue  and  ROI  is  difficult  to   determine.  This  system  should  provide  a  small  percentage  of  the  donation  to  go  towards  the   network  (20%),  with  additional  sources  coming  from  advertising  or  promotional  deals.   Additional  partnerships  with  retail  vendors  (i.e.  LivingSocial,  StubHub,  Groupon)  could  be   utilized  to  entice  new  users  to  the  network.  Tax  incentives  for  commuters  may  encourage  more   riders  to  pay  for  the  system’s  use,  as  well  as  full  cost  recovery  for  drivers  through  a  mechanized   (or  cash-­‐based)  payment  plan.  Most  of  the  revenue  is  returned  in  the  sale  of  the  ridesharing   software  platform  and  coordination  of  technical  guidance  and  support.   There  are  potential  opportunities  available  for  rideshare  networks  and  independent  island  taxi   companies  to  partner  –  Uber  has  already  reached  out  to  work  with  taxi  and  limo  drivers  to   provide  their  service.  This  is  a  good  way  to  reduce  animosity  and  resentment  between  the  two   services,  fueled  by  increased  competition.  However,  partnership  in  this  area  may  be  slow,  as  taxi   regulations  are  complex  and  based  on  entirely  different  business  models  developed  pre-­‐ smartphone.     VENDOR  OPTIONS  FOR  AN  ISLAND  P3-­‐BASED  NETWORK   Ultimately  we  recommend  that  a  public  agency  partners  with  a  private  “product  vendor”  to   develop  a  finance  stream  and  organizational  structure  for  individualized  ridesharing  network.   We  have  completed  a  preliminary  analysis  on  the  following  vendors  for  their  suitability  for  a   public-­‐private  partnership  to  develop  a  ridesharing  network  on  Hawai`i  Island.   THE  TRAPEZE  GROUP   The  Trapeze  Group  claims  to  be  “a  company  at  the  forefront  of  tackling  global  transportation   challenges  through  technologically  integrated  solutions.”  The  company  provides  end-­‐to-­‐end   service  programs  from  product  innovation  and  development  to  solutions  delivery  and  technical   support.  Most  recently,  they  have  acquired  the  assets  of  GreenRide,  a  suite  of  sustainable   ridesharing  solutions  specializing  in  mobility  management,  demand  response  and  software   expertise.  Trapeze  offers  the  most  comprehensive  rideshare  management  online  solutions   package  to  date  (through  RidePro).175  The  capabilities  of  RidePro  include:   Ø Automated  ridematching,  both  individually  or  in  batches   Ø Integration  with  social  media  enabled  for  individual  networking   Ø Web  site  support  to  brand  a  public  interface  for  the  ridesharing  service   Ø Commuter-­‐recorded  trips  to  support  savings  calculations  and  incentive   programs  (i.e.  promotional  drawings)   Ø Maintenance  of  contact  with  registrants  while  tracking  program  success  through   email  and  surveys   Ø Integrated  vanpool  matching  software     84  |  Page     THE  RIDESHARE  COMPANY   The  Rideshare  Company  is  a  nonprofit  organization  offering  interactive  demand-­‐oriented   ridematching  solutions  and  consulting,  marketing  strategies  and  fleet  vehicular  provisions  for   ridesharing  and  vanpooling  programs.  This  company  focuses  on  employees  and  brings  together   federal  tax  incentives,  mass  transit  options,  commuter  incentives,  and  user  tracking  tools  to   deliver  commuter  services  uniquely  tailored  to  fit  each  business.  Originating  in  the  New   York/New  England  region,  the  company  has  expanded  their  consulting  services  nationally  to   Washington,  DC,  Chicago  and  Los  Angeles  while  procuring  a  General  Services  Administration   contract  that  allows  them  to  provide  support  directly  to  federal  government  agencies  as  well.   The  company  places  high  emphasis  on  outreach,  marketing,  and  education  from  conception  to   implementation  in  order  to  educate  employers,  commuters,  state  governments  and  NGOs  while   helping  them  optimize  commuting  alternatives.176   CUBIC  TRANSPORTATION  SYSTEMS   This  global  corporation  provides  integrated  revenue  management  solutions  within  the  mass   transit  industry.  They  assist  with  the  design  and  delivery  of  technological  services  that  provides   the  business  model  and  fare  payment  infrastructure  (gates,  ticketing,  smart  card  readers,  back   end  or  central  systems  for  processing  and  reporting  revenue).  In  addition,  the  company  assumes   responsibility  in  providing  customer  and  software  support  as  well  as  operations  services.  The   company  has  delivered  over  400  projects  in  40  major  markets  on  five  continents.177   A  UNIVERSITY  RIDESHARE  NETWORK   We  recommend  investigating  the  possibility  of  a  ridesharing  pilot  project  at  the  University  of   Hawai`i  at  Hilo  to  understand  the  benefits  and  barriers  of  this  kind  of  network  on  Hawai`i  Island.     University  of  Hawai'i  at  Hilo  Campus  (Source:  hilo.hawaii.edu)         85  |  Page     The  success  of  ridesharing  networks  in  attracting  university  students  depends  upon  the   proportion  of  automobile-­‐reliant  commuters  at  the  school  and  the  relative  travel  distances   between  their  residences  and  campus.  Further  commuting  distances  from  campus  have   traditionally  been  favorable  for  ridesharing,  with  larger  universities  often  proving  more   successful  at  attracting  new  users  to  rideshare  than  their  smaller,  more  campus-­‐focused   counterparts.178  The  University  of  Washington  in  Seattle  (UW)  campus,  for  example,  registered   2,336  users  through  Zimride/Lyft  on  its  launch  date  –  the  largest  in  Zimride  history.  Over  six   weeks  later,  there  were  4,039  users  (those  who  had  logged  onto  the  site).  Zimride  usually   averages  1,500-­‐2,000  campus  users  within  the  first  year  of  its  launch.179  The  success  of  the  UW   rideshare  network  may  be  attributed  to  its  strategic  communications  campaign,  based  on   results  from  student  behavioral  studies  and  focus  group  analyses.  Furthermore,  only  13%  of   undergraduate  students  live  on  campus,  which  indicates  a  strong  demand  for  residence-­‐to-­‐ campus  service.180  Commuter  service  emails  and  messages  to  those  holding  parking  permits   yielded  statistically  significant  influence  on  user  registration.  It  is  unlikely  that  out-­‐of-­‐state   university  students  at  Hilo  would  rely  on  ridesharing  to  get  from  the  local  airport  to  campus,  as   the  distance  spans  just  four  miles.  However,  out  of  the  4,100  undergraduate  students,  only  26%   live  on  campus,  so  rideshare  commuting  to  campus  might  be  an  option  depending  on  user   preferences  –  this  number  does  not  even  take  into  account  the  university  faculty  and  staff  that   may  live  further  from  campus  and  find  carpooling  an  attractive  option  in  getting  to  campus.181   Marketing  and  branding  should  account  for  a  substantial  portion  of  accumulating  a  critical  mass   of  users  essential  for  network  functionality.  Characteristics  of  past  marketing  campaigns  have   included  extensive  emails  to  target  audiences  (social  clubs,  parking  permit  holders),  commuter-­‐ targeted  tabling  in  student  activities  areas  and  parking  lots  to  disseminate  information,  poster   advertisements  and  added  incentives  (raffles  for  tablets  and  iPods,  promotional  deals  with  social   media  vendors  like  LivingSocial  and  StubHub).  Once  the  network  has  attracted  a  broad  base  of   consistent  users,  coordinators  need  to  leverage  their  authority  to  incorporate  larger  campus   groups  and  organizations  in  order  to  expand  credibility  and  personal  outreach  for  the  network.   Engagement  from  orientation  is  also  recommended  in  order  to  familiarize  students,  while   fostering  a  sense  of  community  and  security  by  emphasizing  personal  referencing  and  user   recommendations/ratings.   The  rideshare  industry  is  highly  competitive  and  as  result  is  reluctant  to  disclose  information   about  their  revenues  and  costs.  We  were  able  to  collect  limited  data  from  public  records  and  by   contacting  the  companies  themselves.  For  example,  Zimride  (purchased  in  2013  by  Lyft)  typically   charges  approximately  $10,000/year  to  large  universities  for  rideshare  partnerships  -­‐  major   costs  will  be  realized  in  the  development  phase,  where  initial  technical  and  marketing  capital  is   required  to  get  the  ridesharing  platform  up  and  running.182   Students  who  are  actively  engaged  in  both  environmental  stewardship  and  campus-­‐wide  social   groups  have  traditionally  initiated  project  development.  We  connected  with  members  of  UH-­‐ Hilo’s  Students  for  Sustainability  Committee,  who  do  not  currently  work  on  commuting  issues,   but  were  interested  in  engaging  in  them  in  the  future.       86  |  Page     If  the  County  wishes  to  pursue  partnership  with  the  University  of  Hawai`i  -­‐Hilo  as  a  pilot  project,   information  gathered  from  previous  college  networks  suggest  that  UH  should  develop  its  own   uniquely  tailored  and  marketed  rideshare  network.  It  is  important  for  the  university  to  plan  for   the  ability  to  change  providers  in  the  future  without  losing  all  prior  market  development;   ridesharing  platforms  are  still  in  their  infancy  and  are  still  subject  to  market  fluctuations  and   acquisitions  by  larger  companies  who  may  wish  to  diversify  and  re-­‐prioritize  their  capabilities.   Significant  student  involvement  in  the  partnership  process  has  also  been  a  recurring  theme  of   past  implementation  projects  at  the  university  level.183   UNIVERSITY  RIDESHARE  COMMUTING  PATTERNS  –  A  CURSORY  GLANCE   Figure  7-­‐2,  below,  indicates  the  success  of  ridesharing  at  attracting  both  short-­‐  and  long-­‐ distance  commuters  at  the  University  of  Washington’s  Seattle  campus  between  2010  and  2014.   There  have  been  a  total  of  3,704  cumulative  ride  posts  (approximately  8%  of  all  campus   students  and  faculty)  since  December  13,  2010,  with  13  average  ride  matches  per  post.     Figure  7-­‐2     The  numbers  reflect  that  the  dense  urban  student  population  has  utilized  the  network  for  a   substantial  majority  of  short  distances  rather  than  long  distances;  26.6%  of  commutes  were   between  0-­‐5  miles,  while  29%  of  commutes  were  5-­‐10  miles,  22.4%  of  commutes  were  10-­‐20   miles,  and  22%  of  commutes  were  longer  than  20  miles.  Despite  the  more  substantial  gains  in   cost-­‐effectiveness  from  further  driving  distances,  it  appears  that  density  and  a  higher  number  of   potential  commuters  are  a  more  significant  factor  behind  rideshare  usage  than  distance  savings.   This  implies  that  the  University  of  Hawai`i  at  Hilo  could  potentially  benefit  from  a  rideshare   network  despite  short  distances  from  town  to  campus.184     27%   30%   23%   15%   1%  2%  1%  1%   Rideshare  Commugng  Parerns  at     University  of  Washington   0-­‐5  miles   5-­‐10  miles   10-­‐20  miles   20-­‐60  miles   60-­‐100  miles   100-­‐160  miles   160-­‐220  miles   220+  miles     87  |  Page     COMPARISON  OF  RIDESHARE  OPTIONS     Table  7-­‐1  provides  an  overview  of  the  major  decision  points  for  moving  forward  with  either  an   existing  rideshare  network,  a  newly  developed  network  or  a  vanpool  network.     Table  7-­‐1:  Rideshare  Options  for  Hawai'i  Island   Criteria  Third  Party  Existing   Rideshare  Network  (TNC)   Third  Party  Unique  Rideshare  Network   (P3)  Vanpool  Network   Cost  for   Average   User   Optimal  driver  donation   has  been  determined  to  be   $0.13/mile  with  the   company  retaining  a  20%   fee.   Optimal  driver  donation  has  been   determined  to  be  $0.13/mile.   $141-­‐164  per  person/month   (estimate  specific  to   Vanpool  Hawai'i)185     Capital   Needed   Average  cost  to  rollout   service  at  the  university   level  is  approximately   $10,000/year.186   Trapeze  Group  RidePro  ridematching   software  cost  a  total  of  $208,  929;  the   Riverside  County  Transportation   Commission  paid  $81,553,  while  the   national  Mobile  Source  Air  Pollution   Reduction  Review  Committee  (MSRC)   covered  $127,376,  through  the  state  of   California’s  discretionary  funds.187   The  average  cost  for  a  single   carpool  in  Hawai`i  is  $1,300/   month  for  a  7-­‐person  van.188   JobJet  Iowa  was  initially   funded  by  $146,000.189   Service   Conven-­‐ ience   Optimal  Optimal   The  van  is  assigned  starting   and  ending  nodes  at  the   same  time  every  working   day.  It  lacks  the  flexibility  of   the  rideshare  networks,  but   maintains  reliability.   Ease  of   Admini-­‐ stration   TNCs  are  already  in   existence  and  easily   transferable  to  new   markets.  However,  a   regional  transit  authority   must  be  available  to   coordinate  and  regulate   the  TNC.     Development  of  a  P3  is  time-­‐intensive   and  requires  technical  consulting  to   adopt  a  suitable  model.  However,   longer  term  stability  could  make   securing  funding  from  external  sources   easier.  Private  vendors  assume  the   administrative  role,  relieving  the  public   agency  of  much  of  the  burden.     There  is  no  current   MPO/TMA  for  the  county.   The  statewide  vanpool   program  was  dropped  in  late   2010,  so  the  commuter   network  is  largely  privately-­‐ managed.  (Vride)   Availabil-­‐ ity  of   Techno-­‐ logy   GPS  user  technology  is   readily  available;  the   ridematching  platform  is   provided  by  TNC.   Ridematching  platform  and  technical   support  and  GPS  database  provided  by   the  company.     Software  from  VRide  already   implemented   Require-­‐ ments   Cars,  drivers,  riders,  mobile   phone  or  tablet  with  GPS   capability,  ridematching   platform  and  database  with   accessible  account   information   Ridematching  platform  and   marketing/development  depends  on   each  unique  situation,  but  could  either   be  provided  by  the  company  or   coordinating  agency.   Van  fleet  provided  either  by   third  party  provider  or  an   employer.  Database  both   online  and  via  hard  copy.       88  |  Page     USER  COST  COMPARISONS   Figure  7-­‐3  illustrates  the  monthly  user  costs  associated  with  ridesharing  and  compares  them  to   the  cost  of  commuting  alone  and  commuting  via  public  transit.  The  chart  also  compares  cost   recovery  for  drivers  based  on  how  many  passengers  are  served  in  the  carpool  and  distance   traveled  daily  (short  city  commutes  of  10  miles  and  long  intra-­‐island  commute  of  160  miles).  The   economic  returns  from  long-­‐distance  commuting  are  much  more  substantial  in  ridesharing  than   for  shorter  distances.  Although  the  driver  pays  an  average  of  $640/month  for  long-­‐distance   commuting  on  the  island,  that  cost  is  cut  almost  in  half  by  taking  on  one  additional  passenger   ($332.80  returned  to  the  driver),  and  fully  recovered  with  additional  profit  by  taking  on  two  or   three  passengers  (making  $25.60  or  $358.40  per  month  respectively).  For  shorter  distances,  the   gains  are  more  modest  –  the  $40/month  average  cost  of  gasoline  for  a  single  commuter  is   recovered  with  the  driver  earning  an  additional  $1.60  for  two  more  riders  and  $22.40  for  three   more  riders.  (See  Appendix  G  for  more  details  on  these  calculations.)  Despite  these  findings,  the   pilot  project  completed  at  the  University  of  Washington  clearly  indicated  that  short-­‐distance   (<20  miles)  commutes  were  the  most  heavily  frequented  routes  of  rideshare  users,  indicating   that  the  potential  of  a  loyal  ridership  community  is  more  contingent  upon  a  dense  user  base  in   which  to  draw,  rather  than  relying  on  only  long-­‐distance  commuters  that  live  in  more  isolated   neighborhoods.   Figure  7-­‐3        $(400.00)    $(200.00)    $-­‐          $200.00      $400.00      $600.00     City  Commute  Cross-­‐Island  Commute  Monthly  Cost  of  Travel  Distance  of  Commute   Carpool  Economics   Commute  Alone   Carpool  -­‐  2  people   Carpool  -­‐  3  people   Carpool  -­‐  4  people   Carpool  Rider   Public  Transit     89  |  Page     FEASIBILITY  ANALYSIS     THIRD  PARTY  EXISTING  RIDESHARE  NETWORKS  (TNC)   ADVANTAGES   Existing  Rideshare  Networks  provide  quick  entry  into  the  marketplace.  These  heavily  frequented   and  tested  networks  already  have  substantial  technical  expertise  in  developing  efficient   demand-­‐responsive  ridematching  software.  The  networks  also  bring  experience  and  guidance  in   community  engagement  and  marketing,  making  them  effective  communicators  with  the   practiced  ability  to  promote  new  ridership  and  attract  a  wide  variety  of  clientele  across  a  social   media  landscape.  Technical  support  is  centralized  and  readily  available,  as  is  the  capacity  for   organizational  partnerships  –  Lyft,  Zimride  and  UberX  in  particular  have  demonstrated  a  knack   for  partnering  with  universities,  corporations  or  independent  taxi  providers  in  order  to  broaden   their  customer  bases  while  cultivating  mutually  beneficial  relationships  with  existing  companies.   Service  convenience  (as  included  as  a  key  performance  criterion)  refers  to  the  flexibility,   certainty,  responsiveness,  and  reliability  of  the  transportation  system.  Rideshare  networks  have   near  optimal  service  convenience  due  to  the  fact  that  the  technology  utilized  is  tailored  to   drivers  picking  up  passengers  along    routes  to  be  established  ahead  of  time.  They  have  proven   to  be  used  in  cities  as  both  commuting  practices  as  well  as  established  connection  points   between  the  workplace,  larger  transit  hubs,  and  home.   Carpool  savings  to  the  user  (driver  or  rider)  naturally  accrue  over  time,  growing  increasingly   large  depending  upon  number  of  users  carpooling  together.  Carpool  savings  are  generally  much   more  substantial  for  longer  commuting  trips.  As  noted  in  User  Cost  Comparisons  (above),  drivers   can  recover  their  monthly  spending  on  gasoline  with  just  two  more  passengers,  and  can   potentially  earn  over  $350  per  month  with  three  additional  passengers.  Although  the  average   cost  to  the  passenger  in  said  carpool  may  round  out  to  about  $416  per  month,  this  is  still  lower   than  the  $640/month  standard  commuter  fare  for  the  160-­‐mile  round  trip  from  Hilo  to  Kona.     Finally,  as  we  mentioned  in  the  section  entitled  “Characteristics  of  Hawai`i  County  Commuters,”   residents  of  Hawai`i  Island  are  already  more  prone  to  carpooling  practices  than  their  mainland   counterparts.  If  these  ridesharing  networks  are  able  to  promote  ridesharing  as  a  community-­‐ strengthening  culturally  cohesive  tool  to  network  and  support  fellow  Hawaiians,  the  companies   may  have  a  much  more  meaningful  and  long-­‐lasting  impact.  The  greatest  chance  for  potential   consumer  impact  on  the  island  remains  in  long-­‐distance  commuting  from  residential  clusters  in   Ocean  View-­‐South  Kona,  Puna,  Hilo,  and  Waimea  to  work  destinations  along  the  Kohala  Coast   and  Kona.         90  |  Page     DISADVANTAGES   These  ridesharing  enterprises  have  recently  become  very  popular  and  have  begun  to  expand   rapidly;  this  expansion,  however,  has  been  limited  to  populous  urban  centers  and  their   surrounding  suburbs.  The  ideal  geographical  arrangement  for  proven  rideshare  success  has   been  a  populous  metropolitan  setting;  sprawling  enough  from  the  city  center  for  substantial   rider  savings  from  carpool  to  be  realized,  yet  dense  enough  to  ensure  a  healthy  supply  of  daily   commuters.  It  is  unclear  whether  the  introduction  of  a  rideshare  network  would  attract  a   consistent  customer  base  on  Hawai`i  Island  given  the  region’s  mostly  rural,  geographically   dispersed  population.  Until  this  point,  the  success  of  existing  rideshare  networks  have  hinged   not  only  upon  attractive  cost  savings  to  the  user,  but  also  upon  the  capacity  for  the  existing   infrastructure  to  support  the  network  (both  social  and  technological)  –  while  mobile   technological  capabilities  and  Wi-­‐Fi  coverage  seem  fairly  comprehensive  on  the  island,   population  density  for  ridesharing  commutes  may  not  support  regular  ridership  on  a  consistent   basis.  This,  coupled  with  the  networks’  greater  proven  cost-­‐effectiveness  at  a  longer-­‐distance   scale,  may  be  a  moderate  complication  to  island-­‐wide  success.     Another  potential  area  of  concern  lies  in  the  administrative  oversight  and  regulation  of  these   entities.  In  California,  taxi  providers  resentful  of  the  competitive  pricing  of  rideshare   transportation  network  companies  (TNCs)  lobbied  against  them,  while  investors  remained   uncertain  of  whether  financial  backing  was  in  their  best  interest  due  to  increasing  economic   discord.  It  was  not  until  the  California  Public  Utility  Commission  (PUC)  officially  recognized  TNCs   as  a  separate  and  legitimate  entity  that  ridership  and  investment  in  the  networks  rapidly   expanded  –  this  essentially  served  as  the  PUC’s  assumption  of  responsibility  for  regulation  and   coordination  of  the  networks.   Other  than  the  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  (already  focused  on  maintaining  the  Hele-­‐ On  system),  there  is  no  clear  transportation  management  authority,  regional  planning   organization,  or  council  agency  with  the  resources  necessary  to  oversee  ridesharing  expansion.   Because  the  existing  companies  are  emerging  in  a  competitive  market,  many  of  the  already   established  TNCs  are  in  open  competition  both  among  themselves  and  with  other  industries   (taxi,  vanpool,  transit),  pay  for  themselves,  and  rely  more  on  private  investments  and  venture   capital  to  keep  expanding  new  features  and  services.  This  will  require  more  burdensome   regulation  by  an  administrative  authority  going  into  the  future  (as  opposed  to  a  singular  P3   network  established  in  conjunction  with  an  existing  public  agency).  Establishment  of  a  regional   Transportation  Management  Authority  that  integrates  mass  transit  with  vanpool,  rideshare,  and   taxi  services  could  be  costly  –  the  national  average  annual  budget  for  a  TMA  is  priced  at   $200,000,  generally  from  state  appropriations.190  However,  the  County  is  already  geographically   constrained,  as  an  island  while  most  of  the  TNC  infrastructure  is  already  web-­‐based,  making  the   current  lack  of  a  coordinated  regional  authority  a  minor  issue.  Expansion  could  be  rolled  out  in   conjunction  with  Oahu’s  UberX  launch,  and  is  not  foreseen  to  require  heavy-­‐handed   technological  regulation  or  an  extremely  large  professional  staff  presence  on  Hawai`i  Island.   Implementation  could  potentially  be  achieved  with  existing  oversight  from  the  state’s  Public     91  |  Page     Utility  Commission  or  through  the  Statewide  Transportation  Planning  Office’s  Rural  Transit   Assistance  Program,  though  the  latter  is  probably  unlikely.   TARGETED  USER  GROUPS   Due  to  the  unlikelihood  of  last-­‐mile  travel  for  Hawai`i  Island  ridesharing  (lack  of  cost-­‐ effectiveness  of  short-­‐term  travel),  general  reliance  on  normal  business  hours  for  a  large   commuter  working  base  and  relatively  higher  cost  than  mass  transit,  any  rideshare  network   introduced  on  the  Island  will  likely  support  middle-­‐class  professionals  or  company  employees   within  a  corporate  partnership  with  a  transportation  network  company.  Ridesharing  is  unlikely   to  pull  ridership  away  from  mass  transit  due  to  the  higher  price  of  travel,  and  seems  to  be   geared  more  towards  riders  that  would  otherwise  drive  themselves  (i.e.  those  preferring  the   intimacy,  flexibility  and  luxury  afforded  by  automobile  travel).  The  regularity  of  mass  transit  with   regard  to  operating  hours  and  predetermined  bus  routes  ensures  continued  ridership  by  the   same  commuters  and  students  who  currently  rely  on  Hele-­‐On.  Ridesharing  networks  will   probably  not  gain  much  traction  for  lower-­‐income  families  reliant  on  service  sector  shift  labor   due  to  these  discrepancies.   INCENTIVES  AND  DISINCENTIVES   Federal  subsidies  for  “alternative  commuters”  like  the  Commuter  Tax  Benefit  Program,  the   Guaranteed  Ride  Home  Program  (GRHP),  and  the  Job  Access  Reverse  Commute  (JARC)  program   are  without  an  agency  or  representative  body  that  can  efficiently  allocate  these  incentives  to   commuters  and  businesses  on  Hawai`i  Island.  The  onus  is  on  the  partnering  employer  or   enterprising  individual  to  get  in  contact  with  the  representative  governing  body  to  apply  for  tax   credits  or  subsidies  in  exchange  for  provision  of  ridesharing  commuter  reliance.     The  difficulties  of  securing  these  federal  subsidies,  combined  with  the  lack  of  regional  authority   necessary  to  push  for  application  of  these  incentives  and  make  programs  known  to  commuters,   indicates  that  they  have  not  been  strong  enough  to  encourage  ridesharing  practices  on  the   Island.  Additionally,  it  may  be  very  expensive  to  implement  the  Guaranteed  Ride  Home  Program   due  to  the  lengthy  distances  between  work  and  residence  for  many  islanders,  and  most  federal   funding  is  limited  to  congestion-­‐prone  service  areas  or  targeted  towards  disabled  populations.     This  is  not  to  say  that  tax  benefits  and  commuter  subsidies  cannot  significantly  impact  driving   habits  in  the  future  –  if  state-­‐directed  legislation  is  any  indication,  Hawai`i  might  be  seeing  a   significant  push  in  rideshare  and  carpool  efforts  in  the  near  future  as  potential  energy  savings   are  realized  (see  Policies  in  Existence  –  Carsharing  Vehicle  Surcharge  Tax).  Furthermore,  if  the   County  works  to  support  regional  transportation  oversight  beyond  existing  mass  transit,  it   would  create  a  more  influential  governing  body  in  which  to  communicate  the  needs  of  its   citizens  to  the  state  in  order  to  apply  for  subsidies.         92  |  Page     NEXT  STEPS  FOR  EXPANSION  OF  AN  EXISTING  RIDESHARE  NETWORK   Although  the  largest  uncertainty  remains  in  whether  an  existing  and  tested  ridesharing  service   can  attract  adequate  ridership  given  sprawling  population  dispersal,  a  formal  governing  entity   must  be  established  and  federally  recognized  in  order  for  the  full  range  of  capital  investment   and  commuter  incentive  structures  to  be  developed  and  cultivated.     A  final  criterion  to  be  considered  when  comparing  options  for  expansion  is  social  equity,   measuring  both  attractiveness  and  accessibility  to  the  general  public.  While  vanpool  systems  are   utilized  for  commuters,  the  availability  of  technology  must  be  assessed  so  that  residents  have   the  option  to  rideshare.  We  suggest  that  the  County  develop  a  population  survey  to  gauge  the   potential  popularity  of  the  networks  before  implementation  is  considered.  Such  a  survey  should   reach  across  a  broad  range  of  residents,  from  commuters  to  public  officials,  as  well  as  employers   and  families.  Such  a  survey  could  also  be  developed  by  University  of  Hawai`i  -­‐Hilo  students  in  an   effort  to  measure  how  students  and  faculty  might  respond  to  ridesharing  as  a  means  of   alternative  transportation  in  commuting  to  and  from  campus.     Looking  into  the  future,  it  would  be  in  Hawai`i  County’s  best  interest  to  either  adopt  a  type  of   regional  transportation  management  agency,  planning  organization  or  otherwise  coordinate   priorities  between  its  Energy,  Planning  &  Economic  Development,  Research  &  Development,   Mass  Transit  departments  and  large-­‐business  employers  to  form  a  more  cohesive  approach  to   targeting  sustainable  transportation  solutions.    Currently,  most  ridesharing  companies  (TNCs)   are  regulated  by  state  public  utility  commissions;  to  date,  regulation  typically  entails  ensuring   that  ridesharing  networks  are  registered  and  approved,  that  rides  facilitated  between   passengers  and  private  drivers  utilize  the  drivers’  own  vehicles,  and  that  the  companies   maintain  an  insurance  policy  providing  per-­‐incident  minimum  coverage  standards.  The   regulating  entity  might  also  seek  to  cultivate  partnerships  between  local  taxi  companies  and   TNCs  to  avoid  open  hostility  between  competing  businesses  while  allowing  for  incorporation  of   available  network  technology.   If  the  County  does  decide  to  go  forward  with  an  existing  rideshare  network,  a  Request  for   Proposal  should  be  solicited  to  all  existing  national  rideshare  network  vendors.  This  would   encourage  bidding  by  successful  companies,  allowing  the  networks  to  determine  whether  they   might  benefit  from  expansion  into  unique  territory  beyond  the  purview  of  traditional  systems.  If   an  ensuing  partnership  with  the  local  university  or  with  larger  corporations  is  desired,  Zimride   (recently  sold  to  Lyft)  is  recommended  for  its  expertise  in  coordinating  these  partnerships  at   over  100  universities  and  50  company  offices.191   INDIVIDUAL  PUBLIC-­‐PRIVATE  (P3)  RIDESHARE  NETWORK   ADVANTAGES   Transit-­‐related  public-­‐private  partnerships  (P3)  generally  provide  benefits  in  the  form  of  risk   transfer  (the  private  software  company  assumes  liability  of  service)  while  maintaining  a  proven     93  |  Page     track  record  of  reliability  and  technical  support.  Instead  of  wasting  time  and  resources  on   outsourcing  and  bidding  to  existing  ridesharing  companies  (TNCs)  that  may  not  see  the  demand   as  adequate  for  expanding  their  network  to  the  Island,  selecting  a  solutions-­‐based  vendor  may   provide  accelerated  project  delivery  through  a  fixed  contract  that  forgoes  the  typical   procurement  process.  The  vendors  are  also  familiar  with  ways  to  streamline  operating  costs   through  proven  cash  collection  techniques,  while  helping  the  transit  agency  in  maximizing  new   sources  of  revenue.     Generally,  most  regional  public  officials  have  favored  P3s  in  an  era  where  federal,  state,  and  city   resources  are  increasingly  scarce.  Initially  expensive  contract  costs  could  relieve  transit  agencies   of  administrative  and  financial  burdens,  while  it  would  be  in  the  best  interest  of  such  vendors  to   streamline  operations  to  keep  attracting  riders  while  keeping  maintenance  costs  low.  This  could   prove  to  be  very  attractive  for  Hawai`i  County,  where  the  Mass  Transit  Agency  is  already   stretched  thin  in  terms  of  financial  and  labor  resources  for  oversight  of  the  Hele-­‐On  system.  It   would  also  be  highly  unlikely  for  federal  or  state  funding  to  be  available  for  a  coordinated   county  TMA  in  the  future  without  clear  assurance  that  the  program  will  pay  for  itself.   Additionally,  a  privately  operated  system  unique  to  Hawai`i  County  would  provide  optimal   reliability  and  flexibility  in  service,  rather  than  a  one-­‐size-­‐fits-­‐all  pre-­‐existing  rideshare  model   that  has  only  demonstrated  successful  results  in  metropolitan  regions.  There  is  more  sensitivity   to  branding  and  targeting  selected  groups,  and  private  companies  can  work  with  the  partnering   public  agency  to  help  find  external  sources  to  supplement  project  compensation  fees.  More   importantly,  there  is  less  sensitivity  to  potential  company  turnovers,  acquisitions,  or  changes  in   company  structure  and  ownership.  Where  TNCs  might  graft  their  existing  network  onto  the   Island,  a  unique  P3  working  in  tandem  with  the  County  would  require  less  oversight  and  foster  a   better  relationship  with  existing  residents  and  businesses.   A  P3  system  requires  much  more  capital  and  more  initial  input  from  county  officials  –  however,   the  benefits  of  such  a  system  will  be  realized  in  the  form  of  a  more  responsive  and  flexible   rideshare  network  with  a  greater  capacity  for  coordinating  solutions  to  meet  shifting   transportation  demands  into  the  future.  Compared  to  establishment  of  an  existing  rideshare   network,  a  P3  structure  could  ultimately  provide  greater  long-­‐term  stability  for  the  island,  with   less  dependence  on  uncertain  future  public  funding.     DISADVANTAGES   The  major  distinction  in  choosing  between  implementation  of  an  existing  rideshare  service  or   entering  into  a  contract  with  a  private  vendor  for  an  individualized  network  lies  in  the   administrative  oversight.  While  a  P3  system  might  be  lauded  for  its  greater  assumed  role  in   managing  the  network  almost  in  its  entirety,  the  implication  is  that  the  public  good  (in  this  case,   transit)  has  been  transferred  to  a  private  entity.  This  could  mean  that  the  public  becomes   subject  to  the  company’s  efforts  to  keep  business  costs  low.  The  company  could  raise  utility   rates  and  fees  over  a  period  of  time  (for  example,  fare-­‐raising  of  parking  meters  and  private  toll   bridges  in  Chicago  via  Cubic  Transportation  Systems192),  or  similarly  adjust  costs  based  on     94  |  Page     perceived  market  risks.  Additionally,  there  are  certain  risks  that  private  partners  will  not  assume   -­‐  including  changes  in  regional  law  and  interference  or  approval  by  third-­‐party  government   entities  –  which  could  accordingly  raise  user  costs.     The  initial  startup  costs  of  operation  for  a  P3  network  are  also  much  more  expensive.  Because   each  system  is  uniquely  tailored  to  the  geographical  or  infrastructure  constraints  of  the  project   at  hand,  the  coordinating  public  agency  must  pay  for  consultants  to  visit  the  island  to  make   recommendations  and  decide  exactly  how  an  optimal  rideshare  network  should  be   implemented  (instead  of  relying  on  a  pre-­‐scripted  format).       TARGETED  USER  GROUPS   Ridesharing  networks  on  Hawai`i  Island  are  speculated  to  attract  the  same  demographic  of   ridership  despite  organizational  structure,  as  user  costs  generated  (at  least  in  the  beginning)   would  be  relatively  similar.  P3  networks  are  expected  to  rely  on  middle-­‐class  commuting   professionals  or  commuting  university  students  and  faculty  for  a  majority  of  daily  ridership.   INCENTIVES  AND  DISINCENTIVES   Again,  many  of  the  incentives  offered  for  carpooling  provide  the  same  commuter  and  employer   benefits  for  any  rideshare  network  regardless  of  structure.     There  is  one  possible  innovation  that  may  prove  more  feasible  given  a  unique  third-­‐party   rideshare  system  over  a  publicly  administered  expansion  of  a  more  rigid  existing  network.  A   former  project  consultant  and  current  University  of  Michigan  Sustainable  Systems  graduate   student  originally  came  to  us  with  an  idea  that  could  provide  an  incentive  for  passengers  to   recruit  each  other  for  higher-­‐occupancy  carpooling.  It  applies  the  Game  Theory  as  well  as  our   User  Cost  findings  for  carpool  –  adding  passengers  to  a  carpool  bring  down  costs  for  the  driver   until  he  breaks  even,  at  which  point  adding  additional  riders  would  increase  his  own  profit.   While  this  provides  an  incentive  for  the  driver  to  find  people  to  take  to  work,  the  realized   savings  from  a  passenger  standpoint  may  not  be  as  apparent  (though  they  do  exist).  Once  the   carpool  exceeds  the  break-­‐even  point  and  a  surplus  is  reached,  some  of  the  profit  could  be   returned  to  the  passengers  in  the  form  of  cost  subsidization,  or  simply  a  monthly  payment.  As   more  passengers  are  added  to  the  carpool,  the  subsidy  recovered  by  the  riders  increases  with   the  profit.  Although  the  concept  was  originally  prescribed  for  public  bus  systems  in  India,  the   value  might  prove  more  beneficial  for  a  private  individualized  rideshare  network  with  the   flexibility  to  both  implement  its  own  system  and  manage  itself.193  This  is  especially  pertinent   given  the  fact  that  most  public  buses  operate  at  a  loss  without  government  subsidization.   NEXT  STEPS  FOR  IMPLEMENTATION  OF  A  P3-­‐AGENCY  PARTNERED  RIDESHARE   NETWORK   While  it  is  not  of  paramount  importance  that  a  fully  functioning  agency  be  established  to   oversee,  regulate  and  administer  a  P3  ridesharing  entity,  there  should  be  a  specified  staff   person  (or  persons)  at  the  regional  agency  level  to  be  tasked  with  coordinating  the  day-­‐to-­‐day     95  |  Page     operations  of  the  network.  This  person  would  work  in  accordance  with  the  mutually  agreed   upon  contract  binding  said  agency  with  the  private  vendor.  This  staff  member  should  also  be   charged  with  implementing  and  monitoring  any  additional  policies  enacted  by  the  federal,  state   or  local  public  agencies  that  may  have  an  impact  ridesharing  practices.  Again,  any  overseeing   entity  might  want  to  focus  attention  on  creating  lasting,  mutually  beneficial  relationships   between  said  ridesharing  service  and  local  taxi  companies  in  order  to  ease  hostility  and  realize   full  potential  of  technology-­‐  and  customer-­‐  sharing.     If  the  County  wishes  to  proceed  with  implementation  of  an  individualized  rideshare  network,   this  direction  is  relatively  straightforward.  There  are  a  number  of  transportation  technology   vendors  with  a  proven  track  record  with  significant  investor  backing  –  contacting  a  sales   representative  from  one  of  these  companies  to  obtain  a  quote  would  be  the  next  logical  step.   ISLAND-­‐WIDE  PRIVATE  VANPOOL  NETWORK   ADVANTAGES   Private  vanpooling  (with  vans  provided  by  a  third  party)  has  been  the  preferred  network  within   the  state  due  to  lack  of  prioritization  by  the  Hawai`i    Department  of  Transportation,  as   evidenced  by  past  budgetary  cuts.  The  private  VRide  system  is  already  in  implementation,  and   its  mapping  tools  and  online  surveys  produce  overviews  of  employee  commuting  patterns  in   order  to  establish  travel  nodes.  The  island  is  ideal  in  geography  for  vanpool  commutes,  where   many  large  employers  (e.g.  resorts)  draw  from  concentrated  residential  clusters  (e.g.  Hilo)  and   can  pick  up  commuters  along  the  way  northward  (via  Waimea)  and  southward  (via  Puna,  Ocean   View)  towards  Kona  and  the  Kohala  coast.  The  existing  network  is  entirely  private  –  Vride  both   provides  the  vehicles  and  oversees  the  online  registration  database  and  mapping  tools,  while   members  sign  up  individually  to  drive  and  are  reimbursed  for  fuel  through  “seat  fees”  by   passengers.194   The  organizational  structure  and  technological  infrastructure  is  already  in  place  –  commuters   can  create  online  accounts  to  immediately  begin  registering  for  existing  vanpools  on  the  Island,   or  even  start  their  own  vanpools.  It  is  a  federally  recognized  method  of  commuting,  and  requires   no  additional  governmental  oversight.  Vanpooling  can  save  long-­‐distance  commuters  up  to   $4,000  a  year  (or  more)  in  travel  costs  otherwise  incurred  through  individual  travel  (assuming   average  monthly  single-­‐commuter  cost  of  $640  from  Hilo  to  Kona).  Currently  the  system  is  not   close  to  reaching  full  capacity,  with  most  commuters  relying  on  mass  transit  or  individual   vehicles  for  daily  travel.  Higher  carpooling  capacities  into  the  future  (as  opposed  to  traditional   rideshare)  mean  greater  cost  savings  for  the  users.   Employer  vanpools  within  the  county  are  non-­‐existent,  but  offer  tax  benefits  to  employers  and   employees  as  well  as  the  additional  savings  in  cost  per  mile.         96  |  Page     DISADVANTAGES   While  the  network  saves  even  more  costs  for  riders  and  implementation  has  already  been   achieved,  it  only  accounts  for  an  insignificant  fraction  of  daily  travel  for  islanders.  The  driver  is   only  reimbursed  up  until  the  point  where  his  fuel  costs  are  covered,  and  no  more  –  while  this  is   still  an  incentive  for  the  driver  to  find  willing  vanpoolers,  it  still  may  not  be  worth  the  effort  of   receiving  training  and  driving  a  large  van  back  and  forth  across  the  island  five  times  a  week.   Ridesharing  services,  in  comparison,  offer  potential  profits  to  the  driver  for  his  time  and   services.     The  vanpool  network  still  lacks  the  flexibility  of  mobile  ridesharing  and  ridematching.  Routes,   though  optimized  to  meet  large  concentrations  of  commuters,  are  still  pre-­‐determined  and   depart  and  arrive  at  specific  nodes.  Often  times,  riders  in  a  vanpool  might  still  find  themselves   having  to  drive  just  to  reach  the  starting  node,  which  may  be  more  than  ten  miles  away  for   those  living  on  the  interior  of  the  island  away  from  the  hubs  in  Hilo  or  Kona.  Furthermore,   irregular  shift  hours  between  service-­‐sector  workers  may  hinder  the  effectiveness  of  filling   employer-­‐provided  or  VRide  vans;  if  there  is  too  much  variation  in  the  traveling  times  of  workers   within  a  single  resort  area,  pre-­‐determined  vanpool  route  times  may  do  little  to  meet  the   scheduling  demands  of  the  workers.     If  the  vans  do  reach  full  capacity  and  increase  ridership,  it  could  also  divert  riders  from  existing   mass  transit,  which  has  traditionally  been  subsidized  with  county  dollars  to  ensure  that   passengers  do  not  have  to  pay  more  than  a  few  dollars.   TARGETED  USER  GROUPS   To  date,  the  few  vans  already  transporting  passengers  on  the  island  serve  the  handicapped  and   elderly  in  rural,  isolated  communities  –  these  vans  transport  residents  to  city  centers  (mostly   within  Hilo)  for  shopping  and  health  appointments.  A  more  comprehensive  vanpool  system   would  ideally  focus  on  transporting  commuters  and  service-­‐sector  employees  working   consistent  schedules  to  and  from  a  starting  node  in  Hilo  to  a  final  destination  point  along  the   Kohala  Coast,  possibly  picking  up  riders  along  the  way.  While  the  cheaper  user  costs  of  vanpool   make  it  a  more  attractive  option  for  lower-­‐income  groups  (around  $150/person  each  month  for   a  7-­‐9  person  van),195  the  cheaper  cost  of  vanpooling  compared  to  ridesharing  indicates  that  this   service  may  be  better  suited  for  lower-­‐income  workers  who  have  difficulty  meeting  scheduled   bus  routes,  or  cannot  afford  the  luxury  of  driving  their  own  vehicle  or  even  ridesharing.   INCENTIVES  AND  DISINCENTIVES   There  is  already  paratransit  available  on  the  island  managed  by  the  Hawai`i  County  Economic   Opportunity  Council  (HCEOC)  through  a  federal  contract  with  the  Department  of  Transportation.   However,  though  they  have  applied  for  vehicle  funding  in  the  past  through  the  Job  Access   Reverse  Commute  program  (JARC),  the  state  has  been  stalling  in  allocating  the  vehicles  to  the   County  for  usage.  Currently,  this  program  only  provides  rides  for  the  elderly  and  handicapped,   although  the  HCEOC  is  waiting  on  a  single  van  that  will  transport  ALL  commuters  from  Ocean     97  |  Page     View  to  Kona  for  work  purposes.  Such  difficulties  with  the  reimbursement  process  suggest  that   although  applications  for  funding  through  federal  incentives  are  granted,  the  state’s  stalled   implementation  reflects  a  lack  of  prioritization  when  it  comes  to  the  island’s  transportation   needs.  Because  of  the  difficulties  associated  with  acquiring  government  funding,  it  is  unlikely   that  public  vanpool  incentives  are  likely  to  induce  new  ridership,  or  even  play  a  major  role  in   vanpool  development  for  some  time.  These  issues  may  exacerbate  if  the  County  is  to  rely  on   federal  subsidies  for  future  vanpool  programs  –  in  2011,  the  Hawai`i  Department  of   Transportation  cut  vanpool  subsidies  entirely  after  17  years,  immediately  raising  user  fees  and   eventually  forcing  Vanpool  Hawai`i  to  sub-­‐contract  out  to  a  private  vendor  (VRide)  to  head  the   program.196  Such  difficulties  with  implementing  incentive  programs  also  suggest  the  need  for  a   stronger  and  more  cohesive  regional  voice  to  represent  county  interests,  reflecting  the  need  for   a  planning  organization,  authority  or  council  to  facilitate  and  expedite  grant  proposals  for  new   projects.     The  VRide  system,  while  allowing  for  riders  to  pay  the  driver  to  reimburse  for  the  cost  of  gas,   does  not  allow  the  driver  to  generate  a  profit  of  his  own.  Without  adjusting  this  payment   mechanism,  there  is  little  incentive  for  the  driver  to  find  more  carpoolers  beyond  meeting  fuel   coverage  costs  –  a  mileage  or  time-­‐oriented  payment  plan  might  be  more  suitable  in  allowing   for  the  driver  to  earn  extra  money  for  his  efforts  in  getting  trained  and  driving  the  van  daily.   NEXT  STEPS  FOR  IMPLEMENTATION  OF  A  PRIVATE  VANPOOL  NETWORK   There  is  already  a  state  vanpool  program  (VRide),  which  offers  its  services  to  Hawai`i  County,   though  it  clearly  has  not  been  attainable  for  most  of  the  island’s  residents.  To  remedy  this  while   presenting  the  network  as  a  cost-­‐effective  solution  for  many  commuters,  marketing  and   outreach  campaigns  should  be  expanded  via  radio  and  community  newspapers.  Forums  could   be  held,  accessible  to  both  employers  and  employees,  in  which  businesses  can  share  employee   travel  information  in  order  to  gauge  the  effectiveness  of  partnering  together  to  provide  vanpool   services.  Employers  should  also  be  made  more  aware  of  the  Commuter  Tax  Benefits  available  to   the  company  should  they  opt  with  providing  vanpool  services  to  their  employees.  At  the  state   level,  the  Department  of  Transportation  could  establish  additional  tax  credits  for  employers  who   provide  their  own  vans  (Maryland,  Georgia,  Minnesota).     If  vanpooling  exposure  and  ridership  increases  on  the  island,  the  county  should  establish  a  point   of  contact  within  the  state  VRide  office  in  order  to  bring  in  more  vans.         98  |  Page     8:  APPENDICIES   • Appendix  A:  Project  Plan  and  Hypothesis   • Appendix  B:  Sources  of  Information   • Appendix  C:  County  of  Hawai`i  Financial  Data   • Appendix  D:  Creating  the  Maps   • Appendix  E:  Transportation  Management   • Appendix  F:  Existing  Mobile  Rideshare  Providers   • Appendix  G:  The  Economics  of  Carpooling   • Appendix  H:  University  of  Michigan  Team  Bios   • Illustrations,  Tables  and  Figures   • References         99  |  Page     APPENDIX  A:  PROJECT  PLAN  AND  HYPOTHESES     PROJECT  PLAN   STAGE  I:  (MARCH  –  APRIL  2013)   Preliminary  Research  and  Defining  Testable  Hypotheses   Following  our  preliminary  research  on  Hawai`i  Island  and  its  public  transit  system,  the  team   developed  two  hypotheses  for  reducing  fossil  fuel  usage.  The  following  hypotheses  guided  our   onsite,  background  and  best  practices  research:   1. Technological  and  communication  upgrades  to  the  current  public  transportation  system   will  increase  ridership  and  reduce  personal  vehicle  use.   2. The  introduction  of  car-­‐share  and  ride-­‐share  services  will  reduce  the  number  of  personal   vehicles  used.   Metrics  were  subsequently  selected  in  order  to  test  the  efficacy  of  determined  hypotheses  on   reduction  of  overall  Vehicle  Miles  Traveled  (VMT)  and  reduced  gasoline  consumption.   STAGE  II:  (APRIL  –  MAY  2013)   Review  of  Hawai`i  Island  Transportation  Infrastructure   In  order  to  draft  recommendations  that  are  achievable  and  reflect  the  values  of  the  community   and  all  the  stakeholders,  the  team  completed  further  research  to  build  a  basic  understanding  of   the  local  culture  and  stakeholder,  the  policy-­‐making  landscape,  the  available  financial  resources,   the  current  transportation  system,  and  the  economics  of  the  island.   STAGE  III:  (JUNE  –  JULY  2013)   Comparative  Studies  of  Existing  Regional  Transportation  Systems   The  team  performed  a  literature  review  to  help  broaden  our  knowledge  of  existing   transportation  systems  and  identify  potential  solutions  through  improvements  to  existing   infrastructure  or  introduction  of  new  practices.     STAGE  IV:  (JULY  –  AUGUST  2013)   Onsite  Research  and  Meetings   The  team  traveled  to  Hawai`i  Island  to  engage  with  project  stakeholders  directly.  This  trip   ensured  that  we  got  some  sense  of  the  wants,  needs,  goals  and  objectives  of  those  using  and   involved  in  the  public  transit  system  and  energy  sustainability  on  the  island.  (See  Appendix  B  for   a  comprehensive  list  of  all  project  participants  and  contributors.)       100  |  Page     STAGE  V:  (SEPTEMBER  2013  –  FEBRUARY  2014)   Data  Analysis  and  Final  Report     This  process  will  require  synthesizing  Stage  II  and  III  research,  as  well  as  taking  into  account  the   concerns  and  attitudes  of  the  commuters  and  employers  (after  meeting  with  key  stakeholders)   identified  in  Stage  IV.  We  have  prepared  this  report  with  our  analysis  and  recommendations.     PROJECT  HYPOTHESES   1. Improvements  in  the  current  public  transportation  system  will  increase  ridership  and   reduce  personal  vehicle  use.     Tactics:   a. Introduction  of  vanpools   i. Will  maximize  efficient  occupancy  of  vehicles   ii. Allows  for  more  frequent  trips   b. Redesign  routes   i. More  direct  and  “express”  trips   ii. Clearly  defined  stops   iii. Optimized  times  and  peak  hours   c. Improve  communication   i. Major  upgrade  and  redesign  of  web  page:  user-­‐friendly,  interactive  and   intuitive   ii. Clear  signs  at  designated  bus  stops   iii. Clear  and  more  intuitive  route  mapping  (times,  stops,  etc.)   iv. Major  communication  campaign  when  changes  are  implemented   v. Web  and  mobile  phone  application  with  GPS  tracking  of  buses  and  vans     2. The  introduction  of  car-­‐share  and  ride-­‐share  services  will  reduce  the  number  of  personal   vehicles  used.     Tactics:   a. Engage  the  business  community   i. Introduce  rideshare  or  carpooling  programs  with  employees   ii. Implement  car-­‐share  services  in  existing  rental  car  agencies   iii. Introduce  rideshare  service  companies   b. Develop  coordination  and  communication  tools   i. Ride-­‐share  software   ii. Web-­‐based  apps   iii. Analog  options   101  |  Page     APPENDIX  B:  SOURCES  OF  INFORMATION     Our  Master’s  Project  team  conducted  interviews  with  a  number  of  local  stakeholders  during  our   August  2013  trip  to  Hawai`i  Island.  These  interviews  helped  us  understand  the  culture,  political,   economic,  and  social  dynamics  present  on  Hawai`i  Island.  We  focused  on  methods  and  patterns   of  transit  on  the  island  and  connected  with  interviewees  about  the  professional  work  in  the   transportation  sector,  as  well  as  their  personal  experiences  getting  around  the  island.  The  team   spoke  with  the  following  individuals:     • Tina  Clothier  –  Peoples  Advocacy  for  Trails  Hawai`i   • Elizabeth  Cole  –  The  Kohala  Center   • Kyle  Datta  –  The  Ulupono  Initiative     • Laura  Dierenfield  –  Queen  Liliuokalani  Trust   • Alex  Frost  –  University  of  Hawai`i  Manoa   • Tiffany  Kai  –  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency   • Jay  Kimura  –  Hawai`i  County  Economic  Opportunity  Council   • Wally  Lau  –  Office  of  the  Mayor   • Ray  L’Heureux  –  Hawai`i  State  Department  of  Education   • Margaret  Masunaga  –  Hawai`i  County  Department  of  Planning   • Laverne  Omori  –  Hawai`i  County  Department  of  Research  and  Development   • Will  Rolston  –  Hawai`i  County  Energy  Coordinator   • Sharon  Sakai  –  Kohala  Coast  Resort  Association   • Jonathan  Wong  –  University  of  Hawai`i  Hilo   • Miles  Yoshioka  -­‐  Hawai`i  Island  Chamber  of  Commerce     We’d  also  like  to  acknowledge  and  give  thanks  to  the  following  transportation  experts  for  their   support,  guidance,  and  advice  in  helping  us  complete  this  report:     • Alissa  Altmann  –  Customer  Care,  VRide   • Sara  Brydges  –  Rideshare  Coordinator,  University  of  Washington   • Nelson  Chan  -­‐  Survey  Researcher,  UC-­‐Berkeley  Institute  of  Transportation  Studies   • Adithya  Dahagama  –  Graduate  Student,  University  of  Michigan  School  of  Natural   Resources  &  Environment   • Ryan  Fujii  –  Programming  Section  Manager,  Statewide  Transportation  Planning  Office,   Hawai`i  Department  of  Transportation     102  |  Page     • Celeste  Gilman  –  Commute  Options  Manager,  Transportation  Services  at  the  University   of  Washington   • Jonathan  Levine  –  Taubman  School  of  Architecture  and  Regional  Planning,  University  of   Michigan   • Carol  Norton  –  Program  Manager,  Center  for  Environmental  Policy  &  Management,   University  of  Louisville   • Bill  Medeiros  –GISP  Geographic  Services  Manager,  Maui  County  Government   • Olin  Lagon  –  Kanu  Hawai`i   • Jo  Anne  Johnson  –  Director  of  Department  of  Transportation,  Maui  County  Government   • David  Parsons  –  Hawai`i  Public  Utilities  Commission     • Marc  Takamori  -­‐  Deputy  Director  of  Department  of  Transportation,  Maui  County   Government     NOTE:  We  spoke  with  the  above  listed,  but  this  does  not  constitute  any  endorsement  by  them   or  the  agencies,  businesses  and  organizations  they  represent.         103  |  Page     APPENDIX  C:  COUNTY  OF  HAWAI`I  FINANCIAL  DATA     Table  8-­‐1         Account  Description FY  2010-­‐11 Actuals   FY  2011-­‐12 Estimate FY  2012-­‐13 Estimate FY  2013-­‐14 Estimate FY  2014-­‐15 Estimate Mass  Transit  -­‐  S&W 329,217.68$              359,700.00$            344,553.00$          359,700.00$                  359,700.00$               Mass  Transit  -­‐  OCE 2,741,181.00$      846,799.00$            902,199.00$          1,447,699.00$          1,302,199.00$         Mass  Transit  -­‐  Equipt 199,999.31$              300,000.00$            200,000.00$          200,000.00$                  200,000.00$               Taxicab  Investigation 29,249.82$                  29,000.00$                  29,000.00$                29,000.00$                      29,000.00$                     Rural  Transit  Assist  Pgm 10,863.39$                  20,000.00$                  10,500.00$                10,500.00$                      10,500.00$                     Sec  5309  Capital  Grant 36,230.00$                  -­‐$                                          -­‐$                                        -­‐$                                                -­‐$                                             Sec  5309  Capital  Grt  05-­‐06 1,279,707.01$      1,500,000.00$      -­‐$                                        -­‐$                                                -­‐$                                             Job  Access  &  Reverse  Commute 312,716.00$              -­‐$                                          62,305.00$                -­‐$                                                -­‐$                                             Sec  5311  Non-­‐Urbanized  Formula 21,305.00$                  -­‐$                                          -­‐$                                        -­‐$                                                -­‐$                                             Sec  5309  Captial  Grt  FY12-­‐13 -­‐$                                            -­‐$                                          1,000,000.00$    1,000,000.00$          1,000,000.00$         New  Freedom  Funds -­‐$                                            -­‐$                                          52,255.00$                -­‐$                                                -­‐$                                             Fed  Transit  Admin 973,632.61$              900,000.00$            -­‐$                                        -­‐$                                                -­‐$                                             Fed  Transit  Admin  FY12-­‐13 -­‐$                                            -­‐$                                          700,000.00$          700,000.00$                  700,000.00$               General  Fund  Expenditures 5,934,101.82$      3,955,499.00$    3,300,812.00$  3,746,899.00$        3,601,399.00$       Account  Description FY  2010-­‐11 Actuals   FY  2011-­‐12 Estimate FY  2012-­‐13 Estimate FY  2013-­‐14 Estimate FY  2014-­‐15 Estimate Hwy  Mass  Transit  OCE 943,892.00$              4,044,593.00$      4,845,250.00$    4,345,250.00$          4,445,250.00$         Highway  Fund  Expenditures 943,892.00$            4,044,593.00$    4,845,250.00$  4,345,250.00$        4,445,250.00$       FY  2010  -­‐11  Revenues General  Fund Highway  Fund HWYS:  PUBIC  TRANSPORTATION Mass  Transportation  Agency 3,300,812.00$      4,845,250.00$       Public  Transportation  Revenues 8,146,062.00$       Source:  County  of  Hawai'I  Operating  Budget  FY  2012-­‐2013   County  of  Hawai'i  Mass  Transit  Expenditures  and  Revenue General  Fund Highway  Fund  (020)   104  |  Page     APPENDIX  D:  CREATING  THE  MAPS   Data  sources  and  contents,  data  processing  approaches  and  map  making  techniques  are   explained  in  the  following  appendix.   Data  sources  and  contents   Bus  Routes   Bus  route  data  is  from  the  County  of  Hawai`i  in  Shapefile  format.  Each  bus  route  is  a  polyline   with  its  name.   Recreation     Recreation  data  is  from  the  County  of  Hawai`i  in  Shapefile  format.  Recreation  sites  are  from   three  different  layers  according  to  its  level:  federal  level  recreation  sites  such  as  Hawai`i     Volcanoes  National  Park;  state  level  recreation  sites  such  as  Kekaha  Kai  State  Park;  county  level   recreation  sites  such  as  Keokea  Beach  Park.   Work  hubs   Employers’  addresses  are  found  online  and  then  geocoded  into  Shapefile.   Census   We  obtained  spatial  census  data  from  the  U.S.  Census  Bureau  in  the  form  of  TIGER/Line®   Shapefiles  pre-­‐joined  with  Demographic  Data,197  where  Hawai`i  Island  is  divided  into  8,888   census  blocks.  Each  census  block  has  its  own  population  data.   Spatial  data  processing   Recreation  data  processing   We  merged  all  of  the  179  recreation  sites  into  one  file  and  calculated  its  density  using  Kernel   Density  tool  in  ArcGIS  10.  This  tool  calculates  the  density  of  features  in  a  neighborhood  around   those  features.  In  other  words,  it  smoothes  out  the  information  represented  by  a  collection  of   points  in  a  way  that  is  more  visually  pleasing  and  understandable  because  it  is  often  easier  to   look  at  a  raster  with  a  stretched  color  ramp  than  it  is  to  look  at  blobs  of  points,  especially  when   the  points  cover  up  large  areas  of  the  map.198  It  also  shows  areas  where  POI  (Points  of  Interest,   “recreation  sites”  in  this  case)  are  clustered  (i.e.  have  a  high  density).   Work  hubs  data  processing   First,  we  put  all  of  the  employer’s  addresses  that  were  found  into  a  Microsoft  Excel  table  with   the  four  columns:  “name,”  “address,”  “city,”  and  “state.”  Then,  we  performed  geocoding  in   ArcGIS  10.  Geocoding  is  the  process  of  transforming  street  addresses  and/or  zip  codes  (like  440   Church  St.,  Ann  Arbor,  MI  48105)  into  associated  geographic  coordinates  (often  expressed  as     105  |  Page     latitude  and  longitude,  like  42.277658,-­‐83.736595).  Finally,  we  calculated  the  kernel  density   based  on  the  geocoding  results.   Census  data  processing   We  calculated  population  density  in  each  census  block  by  dividing  population  by  its   corresponding  census  block  area.   Data  visualization   There  are  a  total  of  19  bus  routes  and  we  presented  them  in  different  colors.  Some  of  them  are   overlapped  with  each  other,  which  makes  it  hard  to  display.  As  a  result,  the  overlapped  routes   were  offset  slightly  in  order  to  be  able  to  see  all  of  them.   Density  of  recreation  sites,  employers  and  population  are  presented  on  the  maps  as  well.   Individual  federal  recreation  sites  are  also  presented,  and  road  centerlines  and  airports  are   displayed  as  reference  data.           106  |  Page     APPENDIX  E:  TRANSPORTATION  MANAGEMENT   Table  8-­‐2:  Existing  Transportation  Management  Associations199   LOCATION  SPONSORING   AGENCY   TYPE  OF   AGENCY   CONTACT   INFO   WEBSITE   Atlanta,  GA  Commuter   Connections,  Atlanta   Regional  Commission   MPO,   Ridesh are   87-­‐ RIDEFIND   www.commuteconnections.com   Albany,  NY  Capital  District   Commuter  Register   Transit   Agenc y,   Ridesh are   518-­‐458-­‐ 2164   www.commuter-­‐register.org   Augusta,   ME   Go  Augusta  Ridesh are   800-­‐280-­‐ RIDE   www.goaugusta.org   Birmingham ,  AL   CommuteSmart   Rideshare   Ridesh are   800-­‐826-­‐ RIDE   www.commutesmartrideshare.com   Contra   Costa   County,  CA   Contra  Costa   CountyCommute   Alternative  Network   Public   consor tium   800-­‐215-­‐ 3035   www.traks.org/incentive/guarantee/ince ntive.html     Denver,  CO  Ride  Arrangers  Ridesh are,   COG   303-­‐455-­‐ 1000   www.drcog.org/ridearrangers/     Detroit,  MI  Southeast  Michigan   Council  of   Governments   COG  313-­‐961-­‐ 4266   www.semcog.org/index.html     Houston,  TX  METROVan  Ridesh are   713-­‐224-­‐ RIDE   www.hou-­‐ metro.harris.tx.us/METVAN.HTM     Kansas  City,   MO   Mid-­‐America   Regional  Council   Ridesh are,   COG   816-­‐842-­‐ RIDE   Rideshare.marc.org     Las  Vegas,   NV   Regional   Transportation   Commission   MPO  702-­‐228-­‐ RIDE   www.catride.com/catmatch       107  |  Page     Long  Island,   NY   Long  Island   Ridesharing   Ridesh are   631-­‐737-­‐ CARS   www.737cars.com     Miami,  FL  South  Florida   Commuter  Services   Ridesh are   973-­‐267-­‐ 7600   www.transpotions.org     Twin  Cities,   MN   Metro  Council  MPO,   Transit   Agenc y   651-­‐602-­‐ 1602   www.metrocommuterservices.org/index. asp     Morris   County,  NJ   TransOptions  Ridesh are   973-­‐267-­‐ 7600   www.transoptions.org     Nashville,   TN   Regional   Transportation   Authority   MPO,   Transit   Agenc y   615-­‐862-­‐ 8833   www.rta-­‐ ride.org/ridehome/ridepolicy/htm     New   Hampshire   New  Hampshire  DOT  State   DOT   800-­‐462-­‐ 8707   www.state.nh.us/dot/rideshare     New  Haven,   CT   Rideworks  Ridesh are   800-­‐ALL-­‐ RIDE   www.rideworks.com     New  York,   NY   Commuter  Link  Ridesh are   718-­‐886-­‐ 1343   www.commuterlink.com     Phoenix,  AZ  Valley  Metro  Transit   Agenc y   602-­‐262-­‐ 7242   www.valleymetro.maricopa.gov     Portland,   ME   RideShare  Ridesh are   800-­‐280-­‐ RIDE   www.ridesharemaine.org     Rhode   Island   RI  Public  Transit   Authority   Transit   Agenc y   888-­‐88-­‐ RIPTA   www.ripta.com     San  Diego,   CA   San  Diego  Commute  Ridesh are,   COG   800-­‐ COMMUTE   www.sdcommute.com/van_pool.html       108  |  Page     San   Francisco   Bay  Area,   CA   RIDES  for  Bay  Area   Commuters   Ridesh are   800-­‐755-­‐ POOL   www.rides.org     San  Mateo   County,  CA   Peninsula  Traffic   Congestion  Relief   Alliance   Public-­‐ privat e   Assoc.   650-­‐994-­‐ 7924   www.commute.org     Seattle,  WA  Metro  Rideshare   Operations   Count y   206-­‐625-­‐ 4500   Transit.metrokc.gov/van_car/vancar.html     Stamford,   CT   Metropool  Ridesh are   800-­‐346-­‐ 3743   www.metropool.com     Tallahassee,   FL   Commuter  Services   of  North  Florida   Ridesh are   973-­‐267-­‐ 7600   Tmi.cob.fsu.edu/commute     Tampa,  FL  Bay  Area  Commuter   Services   Ridesh are   813-­‐282-­‐ 8200   www.tampabayrideshare.org     Vermont  Vermont  Public   Transit  Authority   Transit   Agenc y   800-­‐685-­‐ RIDE   www.vpta.net     Vermont  &   New   Hampshire   Upper  Valley   Rideshare   Ridesh are,   COG   802-­‐745-­‐ RIDE   www.uppervalleyrideshare.com//uvrs.grh .html     Washington ,  DC   Commuter   Connections   MPO  800-­‐745-­‐ RIDE   www.mwcog.org/commuter     Windsor,  CT  The  RideShare   Company   Ridesh are   800-­‐972-­‐ 3279   www.rideshare.com                 109  |  Page     Figure  8-­‐1200           110  |  Page     APPENDIX  F:  EXISTING  MOBILE  RIDESHARE  PROVIDERS   Table  8-­‐3:  Existing  Mobile  Rideshare  Providers201   Provider  Location  Services  Provided  Sustainabilit y  Investors  Additional  Notes   Carma   (car.ma)   HQ  in  Cork,   Ireland;  Serves   Ireland,  Norway,   U.S.  (Austin,  D.C.,   San  Francisco)   Real-­‐time  shared  car   trips;    automatic   payment  from  rider   based  on  distance   traveled   SOS  funded   $10M  over   several   years,  each   time   investing   larger   amounts   Venture  capital   funding  from   SOSVentures   In  October  2011,   began  a  real-­‐time   ridesharing  pilot  in   Arlington  and   released  a  real-­‐ time  information   and  management   system  for  vanpool   operation  rolled   out  by  VPSI   Carpooling.co m   Founded  in   Germany.  Serving   40  countries,   mostly  European   Detailed  user  profiles,   with  info  about  where   they  want  to  meet  and   what  they  are  willing  to   pay;  multimodal   platform  also   integrating  bus,  train,   plane   Yes,  been   around  for   15  years  in   Europe   Earlybird   Venture   Capital,   Daimler   Over  5  million   registered  users,   50  million  people   transported  since   launch.  1.3  million   people  carpooling   each  month.  1   million  downloads   of  mobile  apps   Hailo   (hailocab.com )   Started  in  London   and  also  serves   selected  cities  in   North  America,   Europe  and  Asia   Flags  licensed  taxis   through  mobile  devices   and  pays  automatically   by  registered  card  on   account,  or  pay  driver   directly.   Yes,  Hailo   has  carried   8.5  million   passengers   and  grown   to   annualized   sales  of  well   over  $100M   Union  Square   Ventures,   Accel  Partners,   Wellington   Partners,   Atomico   Ventures,  and   Sir  Richard   Branson   A  Hailo  is  taken   every  four  seconds   by  tens  of   thousands  of   drivers  and   hundreds  of   thousands  of   passengers   Lyft  (lyft.me)   Started  in  San   Francisco;   currently  serves   17  major  U.S.   cities,  with  plans   for  further   domestic  and   international   expansion   Peer-­‐to-­‐peer   ridesharing  via   smartphones  and   required  Facebook   accounts.  Payment   system  via  donation   from  passengers   Yes,  for  now   and  will   probably  be   spun-­‐off  like   Zimride.  Lyft   has  more   than   100,000   registered   users  and   facilitates   more  than   30,000  rides   per  week   within  first   year    Andreeson   Horowitz   The  service  has   more  than  300   drivers  in  San   Francisco  along,   who  report   earning  as  much  as   $30  to  $35  an   hour.  As  of  the   summer  of  2013,   Lyft  had  raised   more  venture   funding  than  any   other  peer-­‐to-­‐peer   ridesharing  or  app-­‐ based  car  service     111  |  Page     Provider  Location  Services  Provided  Sustainabilit y  Investors  Additional  Notes   NuRide   (nuride.com)   Connecticut-­‐ based;  also   available  in   Massachusetts,   Hampton  Roads,   San  Antonio,   Houston,  DC   Rewards  program  for   alternative  commute   trips  tracked  through   Nuride  software.   Include  trips  via  bike,   carpool,  transit,   telework   Yes,  NuRide   has  been  in   business  for   12  years  and   continues  to   be   supported   by  several   state/local   government s   Funded  by   state  and  local   gov't  where   they  operate   Focusing  on   rewarding  trip   logging.  No   payment/money   needed  for  rides.   Incentive  through   rewards  for   tracked  trips   RelayRides   (relayrides.co m)   Service  launched   in  Boston  in   summer  2010   and  expanded   nation-­‐wide  in   2012   A  peer-­‐to-­‐peer   carsharing  service,   allowing  private  car-­‐ owners  to  rent  out   vehicles  via  an  online   interface.  Car  owners   can  set  their  own   prices,  and  the   company  takes  25%.   Unknown.   Onstar   partnership   with  GM   cancelled  in   Sept.  2013   to  focus  on   long   duration  car   rentals   Received  $19M   in  funding  from   GM  Ventures,   Google   Ventures  and   others   Focusing  more  on   driver  eligibility   requirements   RideScout   (ridescout.co m)   An  Austin  startup   which  later   expanded  to  DC   RideScout  is  a  free   mobile  app  that   provides  real-­‐time   information  on  all   available  ride  options,   including  both  rail,   taxis,  bikeshare,  car2go,   Sidecar  and  more   Unknown.   Working  on   online   marketing   ad  co-­‐ marketing   with  the   carsharing   service   Car2Go   Funded  by   employees'   friends  and   family  as  well   as  angel   investors   RideScout  is  a   mobile  app  that   aggregates  all  of   the  ride  options   available  to  a  user.   It  is  not  a  service   provider,  instead  a   clearinghouse  of   sorts   Sidecar  San  Francisco,  CA   Sidecar's  smartphone   app  matches  people  in   their  own  car  with   people  nearby  for   shared  rides   Yes,  it's  in   over  60   metro   regions  in   the  country    Investors   include   Lightspeed   Ventures,   Google   Ventures  and   others   All  drivers  are  pre-­‐ vetted  for  safety,   all  rides  are  GPS   tracked  and   everyone  who   rides  is  covered  by   $1  million  dollar   insurance  policy   Uber   Started  in  San   Francisco  and  is   currently  rolling   out  UberX   rideshare   network  in  most   major  U.S.  cities   and  Honolulu   Independent   ridesharing  network   with  a  mobile  app   which  connects   passengers  with  drivers   of  vehicles  for   ridesharing  and  pickup   services   Yes,  founded   in  2009  and   is  in  over  50   cities   worldwide   Lowercase   Capital,  First   Round  Capital,   Benchmark,   Goldman   Sachs,  Menlo,   Google   Ventures                 112  |  Page     APPENDIX  G:  THE  ECONOMICS  OF  CARPOOLING   Table  8-­‐4:  Long  Distance  Intra-­‐Island  Commuting     Table  8-­‐5:  Short  Distance  City  Commuting       Costs Revenue Total Costs Revenue Total Commute  Alone $32.00 ($32.00)$640.00 ($640.00) Carpool  -­‐  2  people Driver $32.00 $16.64 ($15.36)$640.00 $332.80 ($307.20) Carpool  Service $4.16 $4.16 $83.20 $83.20 Carpool  -­‐  3  people Driver $32.00 $33.28 $1.28 $640.00 $665.60 $25.60 Carpool  Service $8.32 $8.32 $166.40 $166.40 Carpool  -­‐  4  people Driver $32.00 $49.92 $17.92 $640.00 $998.40 $358.40 Carpool  Service $12.48 $12.48 $249.60 $249.60 Carpool  Riders $20.80 ($20.80)$416.00 ($416.00) Public  Transit $60.00 ($60.00) Assumptions Cost  of  gas:$4.00/gallon Fuel  efficiency:20  miles/gallon Distance  traveled:160  miles  (roundtrip  -­‐  Hilo  to  Kona) Gallons  used:Distance/Efficiency  =  8  gallons Days  traveled:20  days  in  a  month Rider  fee:$0.13/mile  paid  to  drive Carpool  service  fee:  20%  of  the  fee  paid  by  the  rider Daily Monthly Costs Revenue Total Costs Revenue Total Commute  Alone $2.00 ($2.00)$56.00 ($56.00) Carpool  -­‐  2  people Driver $2.00 $1.04 ($0.96)$56.00 $29.12 ($26.88) Carpool  Service $0.26 $0.26 $7.28 $7.28 Carpool  -­‐  3  people Driver $2.00 $2.08 $0.08 $56.00 $58.24 $2.24 Carpool  Service $0.52 $0.52 $14.56 $14.56 Carpool  -­‐  4  people Driver $2.00 $3.12 $1.12 $56.00 $87.36 $31.36 Carpool  Service $0.78 $0.78 $21.84 $21.84 Carpool  Riders $1.30 ($1.30)$36.40 ($36.40) Public  Transit $60.00 ($60.00) Assumptions Cost  of  gas:$4.00/gallon Fuel  efficiency:20  miles/gallon Distance  traveled:10  miles  (intra-­‐Hilo  or  Kona) Gallons  used:Distance/Efficiency  =  0.5  gallons Days  traveled:20  days  (work  commute)  +  8  days  (non-­‐regular  travel) Rider  fee:$0.13/mile  paid  to  drive Carpool  service  fee:  20%  of  the  fee  paid  by  the  rider Daily Monthly   113  |  Page     APPENDIX  H:  UNIVERSTY  OF  MICHIGAN  TEAM  BIOGRAPHIES     Jonas  Epstein  is  a  2nd-­‐year  MS  student  in  the  Environmental  Policy  &  Planning  track  in  the  School   of  Natural  Resources  and  Environment  and  the  University  of  Michigan.  He  originally  hails  from   Maryland  and  graduated  from  Bucknell  University  in  2011  majoring  in  Economics  and   Environmental  Studies.  Jonas  has  past  work  experience  in  ecosystem  services  valuation  for  the   U.S.  Department  of  Transportation  (working  under  the  Assistant  Secretary  for  Transportation   Policy),  environmental  cost-­‐benefit  analyses,  and  has  completed  extensive  research  analyzing   economic  impacts  resulting  from  agricultural  conservation,  stormwater  management,  and   wastewater  treatment  initiatives  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay  watershed.  He  would  like  to  hone  his   policy  skills  in  order  to  develop  a  lifelong  career  in  land  use/urban  planning  and  natural  resource   management.     Maite  Madrazo  is  a  2nd  year  dual-­‐degree  MS/MBA  student  at  the  University  of  Michigan  School   of  Natural  Resources  and  Environment  and  the  Stephen  M.  Ross  School  of  Business.  She  is  in  the   Sustainable  Systems  track.  Maite  is  from  Mexico  City  and  has  a  Bachelor’s  in  Mechanical  and   Electrical  Engineering.  Previous  to  coming  to  the  University  of  Michigan,  she  worked  in   renewable  energy  project  development  with  Potencia  Industrial  S.A.,  where  she  coordinated  a   20MW  wind  power  project  in  northern  Baja  California,  Mexico;  oversaw  small-­‐wind  turbine   manufacturing,  sales  and  projects;  and  started  the  development  of  a  mini-­‐hydroelectric  plant.   Maite  is  passionate  about  creating  social  and  environmental  impact  by  transitioning  to  clean   and  renewable  energy  sources  and  improving  energy  efficiency.   Trevor  McManamon  is  a2nd  year  dual  MS  student  between  the  University  of  Michigan’s  School   of  Natural  Resources  and  Environment  and  the  School  of  Engineering,  studying  Sustainable   Systems  and  Energy  Systems  Engineering.  He  grew  up  in  San  Jose,  CA  and  majored  in  Chemistry   and  minored  in  Earth  Sciences  at  Boston  University,  graduating  in  December  2011.  Trevor  has   internship  experience  at  the  environmental  research  consultancy  AltaTerra  Research  Network   and  at  the  concentrated  solar  power  startup  Combined  Power.    Trevor  is  passionate  about   contributing  towards  climate  change  mitigation  and  is  hoping  to  enter  the  renewable  energy   sector  upon  graduation  in  May  of  2015.   Daphne  Medina  is  a  3rd  year  student  at  the  University  of  Michigan’s  Erb  Institute  for  Sustainable   Global  Enterprise,  working  toward  a  dual  degree  MS/MBA  at  the  School  of  Natural  Resources   and  Environment  and  the  Stephen  M.  Ross  School  of  Business.  She  joined  the  program  after  four   years  working  at  Environmental  Defense  Fund  on  green  business  practices  in  the  Corporate   Partnerships  Program  and  on  catch  shares  fishery  management  in  the  Oceans  Program.  Daphne   is  currently  pursing  a  career  in  corporate  social  responsibility  focused  on  incorporating   sustainability  into  all  aspects  of  corporate  strategy  in  order  to  create  a  greener  and  more   equitable  global  economy.  Hailing  from  Boston,  she  attended  Boston  University,  graduating  with   BA  in  Political  Science     114  |  Page     Xiaofei  Wen  is  a  2nd  year  MS  student  in  the  Environmental  Informatics  track  in  the  School  of   Natural  Resources  and  Environment  and  the  University  of  Michigan.  He  is  from  China  and   majored  in  Remote  Sensing  Science  and  Technology  at  Wuhan  University,  graduating  in  June   2012.  Xiaofei  has  research  experience  of  information  extraction  using  remote  sensing  imagery   and  GIS  modeling.  Xiaofei  is  passionate  about  applying  his  expertise  of  spatial  analysis  to   support  the  decision  making  of  environmental  &  urban  planning  challenges  in  his  future  career.           115  |  Page     ILLUSTRATIONS,  TABLES,  AND  FIGURES   ILLUSTRATIONS   Front  Cover:  Photo  at  Akaka  Falls  State  Park  by  Daphne  Medina.  All  rights  reserved.   Page  31:  http://hawaiicountymayor.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2011/06/doubledecker-­‐bus.jpg   Page  49:  http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/factsheets/comm/images/comm4.jpg   Page  50:  http://floridaapts.lctr.org/images/GFIfarebox.jpG   Page  84:  http://hilo.hawaii.edu/alumni/images/faderimages/1072012131911000000.jpg     TABLES   Table  1-­‐1:  Models  of  Commuting  5   Table  3-­‐1:  Models  of  Commuting  21   Table  3-­‐2:  Bus  Frequency  for  Each  Route  30   Table  3-­‐3:  Bus  Route  Coverage  Compared  to  Population  Density  31   Table  3-­‐4:  Bus  Route  Coverage  Compared  to  Recreation  Areas  34   Table  3-­‐5:  Annual  Visitation  of  Federal  and  State  Recreation  Sites  on  Hawai`i  Island  34   Table  4-­‐1:  Hawai`i  and  Maui  Ridership  43   Table  4-­‐2:  Hawai`i  and  Maui  Transit  Data  Comparison  43   Table  6-­‐1:  Available  Technologies  48   Table  6-­‐2:  Current  and  Prospective  Adoption  Rates  51   Table  6-­‐3:  Technology  Adoption  Rates  51   Table  7-­‐1:  Rideshare  Options  for  Hawai`i  Island  87   Table  8-­‐1:  County  of  Hawai`i  Mass  Transit  Expenditures  and  Revenue  103   Table  8-­‐2:  Existing  Transportation  Management  Associations  106   Table  8-­‐3:  Existing  Mobile  Rideshare  Providers  110   Table  8-­‐4:  Long  Distance  Intra-­‐Island  Commuting  112   Table  8-­‐5:  Short  Distance  City  Commuting  112     FIGURES   Figure  1-­‐1:  Road  Map  of  Hawai`i  Island  4   Figure  1-­‐2:  Hawai`i  County  Median  Earning  6   Figure  1-­‐3:  Hawai`i  County  Commute  Length  6   Figure  1-­‐4:  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  Ridership  7   Figure  1-­‐5:  Hawai`i  Island  Bus  Routes  8     116  |  Page     Figure  1-­‐6:  Map  of  Maui  Transit  9   Figure  1-­‐7:  Areas  of  Opportunity  10   Figure  1-­‐8:  Potential  Companies  and  Their  Services  11   Figure  1-­‐9:  Carpool  Economics  13   Figure  3-­‐1:  Road  Map  of  Hawai`i  Island  20   Figure  3-­‐2:  Hawai`i  County  Median  Earning  22   Figure  3-­‐3:  Hawai`i  County  Occupations  23   Figure  3-­‐4:  Hawai`i  County  Industries  24   Figure  3-­‐5:  Hawai`i  Vehicle  Availability  25   Figure  3-­‐6:  Hawai`i  County  Commute  Length  26   Figure  3-­‐7:  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  Ridership  27   Figure  3-­‐8:  Hawai`i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  SWOT  Analysis  28   Figure  3-­‐9:  Hawai`i  Island  Population  Density  Map  29   Figure  3-­‐10:  Hawai`i  Island  Bus  Route  Map  32   Figure  3-­‐11:  Hawai`i  Island  Bus  Route  and  Population  Density  Map  33   Figure  3-­‐12:  Hawai`i  Island  Bus  Route  and  Recreation  Site  Density  Map  35   Figure  3-­‐13:  Hawai`i  Island  Bus  Route  and  Business  Density  Map  37   Figure  4-­‐1:  Maui  Bus  Schedule  39   Figure  4-­‐2:  Map  of  Maui  Bus  System  40   Figure  4-­‐3  Maui  Employment  Density  Map  41   Figure  4-­‐4:  Maui  Transit  Need  Map  41   Figure  5-­‐1:  Areas  of  Opportunity  for  Implementing  Technology  46   Figure  6-­‐1:  Stages  of  Transportation  and  Information  Delivery  47   Figure  6-­‐2:  Analysis  of  Companies  and  Services  65   Figure  7-­‐1:  Public-­‐Private  Partnership  Rideshare  Network  Business  Model  80   Figure  7-­‐2:  Rideshare  Commuting  Patterns  at  University  of  Washington  86   Figure  7-­‐3:  Carpool  Economics  88   Figure  8-­‐1:  The  CMAQ  Funding  Process  109             117  |  Page     REFERENCES                                                                                                                             1  "The  Official  U.S.  Government  Source  for  Fuel  Economy  Information."  Fuel  Economy.  U.S.  Department  of   Energy,  2013.  Web.  11  Apr.  2013.  <http://www.fueleconomy.gov/>.   2  "Hawai`i  :  State  Profile  and  Energy  Estimates."  U.S.  Energy  Information  Administration,  2013.  Web.  11   Apr.  2013.  <http://www.eia.gov>.   3  Cooke,  Christopher  P.,  and  David  C.  Parsons.  County  of  Hawai'i  Energy  Sustainability  Plan:  Five  Year   Roadmap.  Rep.  Kohala  Center,  6  Dec.  2012.  Web.   <http://www.kohalacenter.org/pdf/energy/CoH_EnergySustainabilityProgram_Final.pdf>.   4  "Hawai`i  :  State  Profile  and  Energy  Estimates."  U.S.  Energy  Information  Administration,  2013.  Web.  11   Apr.  2013.  <http://www.eia.gov>.   5  "  2012  American  Community  Survey  1-­‐Year  Estimates."  American  FactFinder  .  United  States  Census   Bureau.,  2013.  Web.  1  Nov.  2013.   <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03 >.   6  Ibid.   7  "Island  of  Hawai`i."  Google  Maps.  Google,  2014.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <https://www.google.com/maps/preview/place/Island%2Bof%2BHawai%25E2%2580%2598i/%4019.5896 792%2C-­‐ 155.434294%2C9z/data%3D%213m1%214b1%214m2%213m1%211s0x7953e7c1c5f73a59%3A0x1455a49 2f9d78134>.   8  "Interview  with  Tiffany  Kai,  Mass  Transit  Administrator."  Personal  interview.  20  Aug.  2013.   9  Miller,  Erin.  "New  Saddle  Road  Connector  to  Open  Sept.  7."  Hawai`i    Tribune  Herald.  Stephens  Media   LLC,  22  Aug.  2013.  Web.  8  Nov.  2013.  <http://hawaiitribune-­‐herald.com/sections/news/local-­‐news/new-­‐ saddle-­‐road-­‐connector-­‐open-­‐sept-­‐7.html>.   10  "Hawai`i  Island."  Google  Maps.  Google,  2013.  Web.  8  Nov.  2013.  <http://maps.google.com/>.   11  Hosen,  Kenneth  I.,  and  S.  Bennett  Powell.  Innovative  Rural  Transit  Services.  Rep.  no.  TCRP  Synthesis  94.   Transportation  Research  Board,  2011.  Web.   <http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_94.pdf>.   12  Cooke,  Christopher  P.,  and  David  C.  Parsons.  County  of  Hawai'i  Energy  Sustainability  Plan:  Five  Year   Roadmap.  Rep.  Kohala  Center,  6  Dec.  2012.  Web.   <http://www.kohalacenter.org/pdf/energy/CoH_EnergySustainabilityProgram_Final.pdf>.   13  Ibid.   14  "Interview  with  Tiffany  Kai,  Mass  Transit  Administrator."  Personal  interview.  20  Aug.  2013.   15  Crawford,  Nancy  E.  Comprehensive  Annual  Financial  Report  FY  2011.  Rep.  County  of  Hawai'i,  27  Dec.   2011.  Web.  <http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/58499/Electronic.aspx>.   16  2011  Rural  NTD  Database.  15  Feb.  2013.  Raw  data.  National  Transportation  Database,  n.p.   17  "The  Official  U.S.  Government  Source  for  Fuel  Economy  Information."  Fuel  Economy.  U.S.  Department   of  Energy,  2013.  Web.  11  Apr.  2013.  <http://www.fueleconomy.gov/>.   18  "Hawai`i  :  State  Profile  and  Energy  Estimates."  U.S.  Energy  Information  Administration,  2013.  Web.  11   Apr.  2013.  <http://www.eia.gov>.     118  |  Page                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               19  Cooke,  Christopher  P.,  and  David  C.  Parsons.  County  of  Hawai'i  Energy  Sustainability  Plan:  Five  Year   Roadmap.  Rep.  Kohala  Center,  6  Dec.  2012.  Web.   <http://www.kohalacenter.org/pdf/energy/CoH_EnergySustainabilityProgram_Final.pdf>.   20  "Hawai`i:  State  Profile  and  Energy  Estimates."  U.S.  Energy  Information  Administration,  2013.  Web.  11   Apr.  2013.  <http://www.eia.gov>.   21  Cooke,  Christopher  P.,  and  David  C.  Parsons.  County  of  Hawai'i  Energy  Sustainability  Plan:  Five  Year   Roadmap.  Rep.  Kohala  Center,  6  Dec.  2012.  Web.   <http://www.kohalacenter.org/pdf/energy/CoH_EnergySustainabilityProgram_Final.pdf>.   22  "  2012  American  Community  Survey  1-­‐Year  Estimates."  American  FactFinder.  United  States  Census   Bureau.,  2013.  Web.  1  Nov.  2013.   <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03 >.   23  Ibid.   24  "  2012  American  Community  Survey  1-­‐Year  Estimates."  American  FactFinder  .  United  States  Census   Bureau.,  2013.  Web.  1  Nov.  2013.   <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03 >.   25  Mattson,  Jeremy.  2013  Rural  Transit  Fact  Book.  Rep.  National  Center  for  Transit  Research,  July  2013.   Web.  <http://www.surtc.org/transitfactbook/downloads/2013_rural_transit_fact_book.pdf>.   26  Public  Transit  in  Rural  Communities.  AARP,  2012.  Web.   <http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/livable-­‐communities/act/transportation/public-­‐transit-­‐in-­‐rural-­‐ communities-­‐aarp.pdf>.   27  Mattson,  Jeremy.  2013  Rural  Transit  Fact  Book.  Rep.  National  Center  for  Transit  Research,  July  2013.   Web.  <http://www.surtc.org/transitfactbook/downloads/2013_rural_transit_fact_book.pdf>.   28  Ripplinger,  David,  Elvis  Ndembe,  and  Jill  Hough.  2011  Transit  and  Livability  Report.  Rep.  North  Dakota   State  University:  Upper  Great  Plains  Transportation  Institute,  Dec.  2012.  Web.   <http://www.ugpti.org/pubs/pdf/DP262.pdf>.   29  2011  Rural  NTD  Database.  15  Feb.  2013.  Raw  data.  National  Transportation  Database,  n.p.   30  Mattson,  Jeremy.  2013  Rural  Transit  Fact  Book.  Rep.  National  Center  for  Transit  Research,  July  2013.   Web.  <http://www.surtc.org/transitfactbook/downloads/2013_rural_transit_fact_book.pdf>.   31  2011  Rural  NTD  Database.  15  Feb.  2013.  Raw  data.  National  Transportation  Database,  n.p.   32  Ibid.   33  Mattson,  Jeremy.  2013  Rural  Transit  Fact  Book.  Rep.  National  Center  for  Transit  Research,  July  2013.   Web.  <http://www.surtc.org/transitfactbook/downloads/2013_rural_transit_fact_book.pdf>.   34  "Commuter  Tax  Benefits  |  National  Center  for  Transit  Research."  National  Center  for  Transit  Research.   National  Center  for  Transit  Research,  2013.  Web.  29  Jan.  2014.   <http://www.nctr.usf.edu/programs/clearinghouse/commutebenefits/>.   35  "Employer's  Tax  Guide  to  Fringe  Benefits."  Internal  Revenue  Service.  U.S.  Department  of  Treasury,  2014.   Web.  <http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-­‐pdf/p15b.pdf>.   36  "Commuter  Benefits."  Wageworks.  Wageworks,  2014.  Web.  20  Feb.  2014.   <https://www.wageworks.com/employees/benefits/commuter.aspx>.     119  |  Page                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               37  Hosen,  Kenneth  I.,  and  S.  Bennett  Powell.  Innovative  Rural  Transit  Services.  Rep.  no.  TCRP  Synthesis  94.   Transportation  Research  Board,  2011.  Web.   <http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_94.pdf>.   38  Doughty,  Andrew,  and  Leona  Boyd.  Hawai`i  ,  the  Big  Island  Revealed:  The  Ultimate  Guidebook.  Lihuʻe,   Hawaiʻi:  Wizard  Publications,  2011.  Print.   39  History  of  Hawai`i    Consolidated  Railroad.  Laupahoehoe  Train  Museum,  2013.  Web.  8  Nov.  2013.   <http://www.thetrainmuseum.com/history.html>.   40  "Hawai`i  Island."  Google  Maps.  Google,  2013.  Web.  8  Nov.  2013.  <http://maps.google.com/>.   41  "Interview  with  Tiffany  Kai,  Mass  Transit  Administrator."  Personal  interview.  20  Aug.  2013.   42  Miller,  Erin.  "New  Saddle  Road  Connector  to  Open  Sept.  7."  Hawai`i    Tribune  Herald.  Stephens  Media   LLC,  22  Aug.  2013.  Web.  8  Nov.  2013.  <http://hawaiitribune-­‐herald.com/sections/news/local-­‐news/new-­‐ saddle-­‐road-­‐connector-­‐open-­‐sept-­‐7.html>.   43  "Hawai`i  Island."  Google  Maps.  Google,  2013.  Web.  8  Nov.  2013.  <http://maps.google.com/>.   44  Ibid.   45  Doughty,  Andrew,  and  Leona  Boyd.  Hawai`i  ,  the  Big  Island  Revealed:  The  Ultimate  Guidebook.  Lihuʻe,   Hawaiʻi:  Wizard  Publications,  2011.  Print.   46  Cooke,  Christopher  P.,  and  David  C.  Parsons.  County  of  Hawai'i  Energy  Sustainability  Plan:  Five  Year   Roadmap.  Rep.  Kohala  Center,  6  Dec.  2012.  Web.   <http://www.kohalacenter.org/pdf/energy/CoH_EnergySustainabilityProgram_Final.pdf>.   47  "Hawai'i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  —  Hele-­‐On  Bus."  Hawai'i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency  —  Hele-­‐On   Bus.  County  of  Hawai'i,  2013.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.  <http://heleonbus.org/>.   48  "Interview  with  Tiffany  Kai,  Mass  Transit  Administrator."  Personal  interview.  20  Aug.  2013.   49  Crawford,  Nancy  E.  Comprehensive  Annual  Financial  Report  FY  2011.  Rep.  County  of  Hawai'i,  27  Dec.   2011.  Web.  <http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/58499/Electronic.aspx>.   50  "Interview  with  Tiffany  Kai,  Mass  Transit  Administrator."  Personal  interview.  20  Aug.  2013.   51  Crawford,  Nancy  E.  Comprehensive  Annual  Financial  Report  FY  2011.  Rep.  County  of  Hawai'i,  27  Dec.   2011.  Web.  <http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/58499/Electronic.aspx>.   52  2011  Rural  NTD  Database.  15  Feb.  2013.  Raw  data.  National  Transportation  Database,  n.p.   53  "Bus  Schedules  &  Maps."  Hele-­‐On  Bus  Hawai'i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency.  N.p.,  n.d.  Web.  26  Feb.   2014.   54  "Big  Island  Feature."  Top  Things  to  Do  on  the  Big  Island.  N.p.,  n.d.  Web.  26  Jan.  2014.   <http://www.fodors.com/world/north-­‐america/usa/hawaii/big-­‐island/feature_30006.html>.   55  "Annual  Recreation  Visitation  by  Park  Type  or  Region  For:  2013."  U.S.  National  Park  Service.  N.p.,  n.d.   Web.  26  Feb.  2014.   56  2007  Hawai‘i  State  Parks  Survey.  N.p.:  Hawaii  Tourism  Authority,  Dec.  2007.  PDF.   57  "Passenger  Boarding  (Enplanement)  and  All-­‐Cargo  Data  for  U.S.  Airports."  Federal  Aviation   Administration.  Federal  Aviation  Administration,  31  Oct.  2013.  Web.  07  Feb.  2014.   http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/   58  "Bus  Schedules  &  Maps."  Hele-­‐On  Bus  Hawai'i  County  Mass  Transit  Agency.  Hawai'i  County  Mass  Transit   Agency,  n.d.  Web.  07  Feb.  2014.  http://www.heleonbus.org/schedules-­‐and-­‐maps     120  |  Page                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               59  "Ground  Transportation."  Hilo  International  Airport.  N.p.,  n.d.  Web.  07  Feb.  2014.   http://hawaii.gov/ito/ground-­‐transportation   60  "Ground  Transportation."  Kona  International  Airport  at  Keahole.  N.p.,  n.d.  Web.  07  Feb.  2014.   http://hawaii.gov/koa/ground-­‐transportation   61  Bernardo,  Rosemarie.  "Joint  Venture  to  Start  Maui  Bus  Service."  Honolulu  Star-­‐Bulletin  Hawaii  News.   Honolulu  Star-­‐Bulletin,  23  Aug.  2002.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <http://archives.starbulletin.com/2002/08/23/news/story4.html>.   62  "Maui  Bus  Service."  Maui  County,  HI.  County  of  Maui,  2013.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <http://www.mauicounty.gov/index.aspx?NID=605>.   63  Ibid.   64  Ibid.   65  Ibid.   66  "MTA  Names  New  Construction  Head  As  AECOM  Buys  His  Former  Firm  -­‐  ENR  |  McGraw-­‐Hill   Construction."  ENR.com.  ENR.com,  01  Aug.  2008.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <http://enr.construction.com/news/transportation/archives/080801a.asp>.   67  Urbitran  Associates.  County  of  Maui  Short  Range  Transit  Plan.  Rep.  County  of  Maui,  2005.   Web.  <http://www.mauicounty.gov/documents/21/srtp.PDF>.   68  Ibid.   69  "Maui  Bus  Service."  Maui  County,  HI.  County  of  Maui,  2013.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <http://www.mauicounty.gov/index.aspx?NID=605>.   70  Interview  with  Bill  Medeiros,  Maui  GISP  Geographic  Services  Manager."  Personal  interview.  17  Jan.   2014.   71  Interview  with  Jo  Anne  Johnson,  Maui  County  Department  of  Transportation  Director,  and  Marc   Takamori,  Maui  County  Department  of  Transportation  Deputy  Director."  Personal  interview.  23  Jan.  2014   72  Crawford,  Nancy  E.  Comprehensive  Annual  Financial  Report  FY  2012.  Rep.  County  of  Hawai'i,  30  Jun.   2012.  Web.  <http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/63773/Electronic.aspx>.     73  Agsalog,  Danilo  F.  "Comprehensive  Annual  Financial  Report."  County  of  Maui.  County  of  Maui,  30  June   2012.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <http://www.co.maui.hi.us/documents/3/515/COMCAFRFY%202012_201301101533124039.pdf>.   74  "  2012  American  Community  Survey  1-­‐Year  Estimates."  American  FactFinder  .  United  States  Census   Bureau.,  2013.  Web.  1  Nov.  2013.   <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP03 >.   75  "Maui  County  General  Plan  2030."  Maui  County,  HI.  Maui  County,  HI,  2013.  Web.   <http://www.co.maui.hi.us/documents/17/69/71/3828/Chapter%201_201304191329387793.pdf.>.   76  "County  of  Hawaii  -­‐  Operating  Budget  FY  2013-­‐4."  County  of  Hawai'i.  County  of  Hawai'i,  2013.  Web.  20   Feb.  2014.  <http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/DocView.aspx?id=792118>.   77"Transportation  -­‐  Department  Summary  FY  2014."  County  of  Maui.  County  of  Maui,  n.d.  Web.   <http://co.maui.hi.us/documents/50/51/3734/3735/3738/060-­‐18-­‐ Transportation_201310041315295723.pdf>.       121  |  Page                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               78  "2012  NTD  Data  Tables."  2012  NTD  Data  Tables.  American  Public  Transportation  Association,  2012.   Web.  20  Feb.  2014.  <http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/NTDDataTables.aspx>.   79  "2012  NTD  Data  Tables."  2012  NTD  Data  Tables.  American  Public  Transportation  Association,  2012.   Web.  20  Feb.  2014.  <http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/NTDDataTables.aspx>.   80  Velaga,  Nagendra  R.  et  al.,  “Transport  Poverty  Meets  the  Digital  Divide:  Accessibility  and  Connectivity  in   Rural  Communities,”  Journal  of  Transport  Geography,  Volume  21,  March  2012.   81  Interview  with  Olin  Lagon,  Kanu  Hawai`i  ."  Personal  interview.  17  Jan.  2014.   82  Ripplinger,  David  and  Bethany  Brand-­‐Sargent,  “Technology  Adoption  by  Small  Urban  and  Rural  Transit   Agencies,”  Upper  Great  Plains  Transportation  Institute,  North  Dakota  State  University,  June  2010.   83  Information  about  Rural  ITS,  <http://www.ruralits.org/>.  Accessed  November  1,  2013.   84  Ripplinger,  David  and  Bethany  Brand-­‐Sargent,  “Technology  Adoption  by  Small  Urban  and  Rural  Transit   Agencies,”  Upper  Great  Plains  Transportation  Institute,  North  Dakota  State  University,  June  2010.   85  Velaga,  Nagendra  R.  et  al.,  “Development  of  a  Map-­‐Matching  Algorithm  for  Rural  Passenger  Information   Systems  through  Mobile  Phones  and  Crowd  Sourcing,”  Journal  of  Computing  in  Civil  Engineering,  Volume   27,  November  2013.   86  Ripplinger,  David  and  Bethany  Brand-­‐Sargent,  “Technology  Adoption  by  Small  Urban  and  Rural  Transit   Agencies,”  Upper  Great  Plains  Transportation  Institute,  North  Dakota  State  University,  June  2010.     87  “Central  Florida  Regional  Transportation  Authority  d.b.a.  LYNX  &  Polk  County  Transit  Services  Rural   Intelligent  Transportation  System  Demonstration  Project,”  U.S.  Department  of  Transportation  Federal   Transit  Administration,  December  2010.   88  Ripplinger,  David  and  Bethany  Brand-­‐Sargent,  “Technology  Adoption  by  Small  Urban  and  Rural  Transit   Agencies,”  Upper  Great  Plains  Transportation  Institute,  North  Dakota  State  University,  June  2010.   89  “Central  Florida  Regional  Transportation  Authority  d.b.a.  LYNX  &  Polk  County  Transit  Services  Rural   Intelligent  Transportation  System  Demonstration  Project,”  U.S.  Department  of  Transportation  Federal   Transit  Administration,  December  2010.   90  Brown,  David,  “GPS  Monitoring  Keeps  Buses  on  Track,”  Mass  Transit,  December  20,  2011,   <http://www.masstransitmag.com/article/10453259/gps-­‐monitoring-­‐keeps-­‐buses-­‐on-­‐track>.  Accessed   November  1,  2013.       91  Ripplinger,  David  and  Bethany  Brand-­‐Sargent,  “Technology  Adoption  by  Small  Urban  and  Rural  Transit   Agencies,”  Upper  Great  Plains  Transportation  Institute,  North  Dakota  State  University,  June  2010.     92  Ibid.     93  Ibid.     94  “Central  Florida  Regional  Transportation  Authority  d.b.a.  LYNX  &  Polk  County  Transit  Services  Rural   Intelligent  Transportation  System  Demonstration  Project,”  U.S.  Department  of  Transportation  Federal   Transit  Administration,  December  2010.   95  Ripplinger,  David  and  Bethany  Brand-­‐Sargent,  “Technology  Adoption  by  Small  Urban  and  Rural  Transit   Agencies,”  Upper  Great  Plains  Transportation  Institute,  North  Dakota  State  University,  June  2010.     96  Ibid.   97  Edwards,  Peter,  et  al.,  “A  Rural  Real-­‐Time  Passenger  Information  Ecosystem,”  10th  International   Conference  on  Mobile  Systems,  June  2012.     122  |  Page                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               98  Ripplinger,  David  and  Bethany  Brand-­‐Sargent,  “Technology  Adoption  by  Small  Urban  and  Rural  Transit   Agencies,”  Upper  Great  Plains  Transportation  Institute,  North  Dakota  State  University,  June  2010.   99  Ibid.   100  Ibid.   101  Crawford,  Nancy  E.  Comprehensive  Annual  Financial  Report  FY  2011.  Rep.  County  of  Hawai'i,  27  Dec.   2011.  Web.  <http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/1/doc/58499/Electronic.aspx>.   102  2011  Rural  NTD  Database.  15  Feb.  2013.  Raw  data.  National  Transportation  Database,  n.p.   103  Operating  Budget  FY2012-­‐13.  Rep.  County  of  Hawai'i,  2012.  Web.   <http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/DocView.aspx?id=770538>   104  Google  Transit  Partner  Program,   <http://maps.google.com/help/maps/mapcontent/transit/index.html>.  Accessed  November  4,  2013.   105  “Hampton  Roads  Transit  improves  customer  service  and  enhances  web  marketing  efforts  with  Transit   in  Google  Maps,  Analytics,  YouTube,  Gadgets,  Calendar  and  Picasa,”  Google  Case  Study,  2008,  <   http://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/maps.google.com/en/us/help/ma ps/mapcontent/transit/case_study_hampton_roads.pdf>.  Accessed  November  6,  2013.     106  Google  Transit  Partner  Program,   <http://maps.google.com/help/maps/mapcontent/transit/index.html>.  Accessed  November  4,  2013.   107  “General  Transit  Feed  Specification  Reference,”  Google  Developers,   <https://developers.google.com/transit/gtfs/reference?hl=en&csw=1>.  Accessed  November  4,  2013.   108  Google  Transit  Partner  Program,   <http://maps.google.com/help/maps/mapcontent/transit/index.html>.  Accessed  November  4,  2013.   109  “Google  Transit  Data  Feed,”  Google,   <https://code.google.com/p/googletransitdatafeed/wiki/PublicFeeds?hl=en>.  Accessed  November  4,   2013.     110  Rahman,  Mazedur,  “Five  Transit  Agencies,  One  Goal:  Big  Savings  through  Partnership  and  Innovation,”   Institute  of  Transportation  Engineers,   <http://www.ite.org/Membersonly/techconference/2012/CB12C3301.pdf>.  Accessed  November  2,  2013.   111  Google  Transit  Partner  Program,   <http://maps.google.com/help/maps/mapcontent/transit/index.html>.  Accessed  November  4,  2013.   112  Interview  with  Jo  Anne  Johnson,  Maui  County  Department  of  Transportation  Director,  and  Marc   Takamori,  Maui  County  Department  of  Transportation  Deputy  Director."  Personal  interview.  23  Jan.  2014   113  Interview  with  Olin  Lagon,  Kanu  Hawai`i  ."  Personal  interview.  17  Jan.  2014.   114  Modoc  County  Transportation  Commission,  “Evolution  of  Intelligent  Transportation  Systems  for   Mobility  Management  and  Coordination  Serving  California’s  Rural  Frontier,”  U.S.  Department  of   Transportation  Federal  Transit  Administration,  January  2012.     115  Thompson,  Arthur  and  Goodridge,  Wayne,  “Bus  Coming:  A  Service  for  Tracking  Buses  in  Rural  Areas   based  on  Passenger  Locations,”  GEOProcessing  2012,  The  Fourth  International  Conference  on  Advanced   Geographic  Information  Systems,  Applications,  and  Services,  January  30,  2012.   116  Anderson,  Ruth  E.,  et  al.,  “Experiences  with  a  Transportation  Information  System  that  Uses  Only  GPS   and  SMS,”  International  Conference  on  Information  and  Communication  Technologies  and  Development,   December  2010.     123  |  Page                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               117  Edwards,  Peter,  et  al.,  “A  Rural  Real-­‐Time  Passenger  Information  Ecosystem,”  dot.rural  Digital  Economy   Hub,  University  of  Aberdeen,  The  International  Conference  on  Mobile 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 Actsoft  Website.  N.p.,  2014.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.  <http://www.actsoft.com/  about/case-­‐ studies/>.   125  Ibid.   126  "NextBus:  Real-­‐Time  Passenger  Information  Solutions."  Cubic  CTS.  NextBus  Inc.,  2014.  Web.  30  Jan.   2014.  <http://cts.cubic.com/solutions/realtimepassengerinformation/nextbus%2Cinc.aspx>.   127  "Transit  Bus  Tracking,  CAD,  Real-­‐Time  Passenger  Information."  Syncromatics.  N.p.,  2014.  Web.  30  Jan.   2014.  <http://www.syncromatics.com/>.   128  "Case  Study:  LA  DOT."  Syncromatics.  N.p.,  2014.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <http://www.syncromatics.com/company/casestudies?ladot/>   129  "Case  Study:  USF."  Syncromatics.  N.p.,  2014.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <http://www.syncromatics.com/company/casestudies?usf/>   130  "Teletrac  GPS  Fleet  Tracking  Software."  Teletrac  ®|  GPS  Fleet  Tracking.  N.p.,  2014.  Web.  30  Jan.  2014.   <http://www.teletrac.com/>.   131  "Real  Time  Fleet  Tracking,  Management  and  Logistics 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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          166  "Innovative  Vanpool  Programs."  Transportation  Toolkit  for  the  Business  Community.  Joblinks   Employment  Transportation,  Jan.  2012.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.   http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/articlefiles/InnovativeVanpoolPrograms.pdf   167  "VPSI  Inc.  -­‐  Vpsiinc.com."  VPSI  Inc.  -­‐  Vpsiinc.com.  N.p.,  2013.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.   http://www.vpsiinc.com/home/submenu.asp?MMID=1     168  "Innovative  Vanpool  Programs."  Transportation  Toolkit  for  the  Business  Community.  Joblinks   Employment  Transportation,  Jan.  2012.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.   http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/articlefiles/InnovativeVanpoolPrograms.pdf     169  "Innovative  Vanpool  Programs."  Transportation  Toolkit  for  the  Business  Community.  Joblinks   Employment  Transportation,  Jan.  2012.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.   http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/articlefiles/InnovativeVanpoolPrograms.pdf     170  "Jay  Kimura."  Personal  interview.  22  Aug.  2013.   171  "Life  Without  Subsidies:  Vanpool  Hawaii  Announces  New  Group  Rate  Hawaii  Free  Press."  Hawaii  Free   Press.  N.p.,  22  June  2011.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.   http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/4529/Life-­‐Without-­‐Subsidies-­‐Vanpool-­‐ Hawaii-­‐Announces-­‐New-­‐Group-­‐Rate.aspx     172  "Formula  Grants  for  Other  than  Urbanized  Areas  (5311)."  FTA-­‐SAFETEA-­‐LU.  U.S.  Federal  Transit   Administration,  2013.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.  http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13093_3555.html     173  "Job  Access  and  Reverse  Commute  Program  (5316)."  FTA-­‐SAFETEA-­‐LU.  U.S.  Federal  Transit   Administration,  2013.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.  http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13093_3550.html     174  "Regional  Rideshare  Database  Enhancements."  Clean  Transportation  Funding  from  the  MRSC.  Mobile   Source  Air  Pollution  Reduction  Review  Committee,  n.d.  Web.   http://www.cleantransportationfunding.org/projects/view/regional_rideshare_database_enhancements     175  "Welcome  to  Trapeze  Group."  Passenger  Transportation  Software  and  Solutions.  N.p.,  2013.  Web.  11   Nov.  2013.  http://www.trapezegroup.com/     176  The  Rideshare  Company.  Our  Products  and  Services  and  the  Story  of  The  Rideshare  Company  through   the  Years.  N.p.,  2013.  Web.  http://www.rideshare.com/Customer-­‐ Content/WWW/CMS/files/TRC_White_Paper.pdf     177  "Cubic  CTS  Home."  Cubic  Transportation  Systems.  N.p.,  2013.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.  http://cts.cubic.com/     178  Norton,  Carol.  (2014,  January  15).  Interview  by  J.  Epstein  (phone).  University  of  Louisville  Committee  of   Sustainable  Transportation,  Louisville,  KY.   179  Curtis,  Kate, 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 Best  Young   Entrepreneurs."  Bloomberg  Businessweek.  Bloomberg  News,  2009.  Web.   http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10/1009_entrepreneurs_25_and_under/26.htm   187  "Regional  Rideshare  Database  Enhancements."  Clean  Transportation  Funding  from  the  MRSC.  Mobile   Source  Air  Pollution  Reduction  Review  Committee,  n.d.  Web.   http://www.cleantransportationfunding.org/projects/view/regional_rideshare_database_enhancements     188  Life  Without  Subsidies:  Vanpool  Hawai`i    Announces  New  Group  Rate  Hawai`i    Free  Press."  Hawai`i     Free  Press.  N.p.,  22  June  2011.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.   http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/ID/4529/Life-­‐Without-­‐Subsidies-­‐Vanpool-­‐ hawaii-­‐Announces-­‐New-­‐Group-­‐Rate.aspx   189  "Innovative  Vanpool  Programs."  Transportation  Toolkit  for  the  Business  Community.  Joblinks   Employment  Transportation,  Jan.  2012.  Web.  11  Nov.  2013.   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