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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-24 Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday, March 24, 2025 10:30 a.m. Hawai’i County Building-Puna Conference Room (Suite 1501) 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720, and Zoom A video recording is made part of these minutes, which can be viewed on the Hele-On YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/SWIa5n22z9k?si=HxoXg0R87KpAo2sc 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Terlep at 10:41 a.m., at the Hawai’i County Building, Puna Conference Room (Suite 1501), 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, HI 96720. This meeting was also streamed live on Zoom. 2. Roll Call Commissioner Terlep at 10:41 a.m., welcomed everyone and asked for a roll call. Staff, commissioners, and others present made their introductions. A quorum was present. Commissioners present: Matthew Terlep, District 1 Kristy Cruz, District 5 Roselyn Molina, District 7 Chelsea Ahern, District 8 Lloyd Matsubara, District 9 County staff present: Zachary Bergum, Acting Mass Transit Administrator Jennifer Martin, Transit Fleet & Facilities Manager Suzanna Tiapula, Deputy Corporation Counsel Thaysha Genegabuas, Secretary Others present: Herrick Pimentero on behalf of Jazirh Taxi Remigio Dumayag on behalf of R&A Taxi James Oxley on behalf of Masakos Taxi Branden Henson on behalf of B.H. Taxi 3. Election for New Chairperson Commissioner Terlep at 10:45 a.m., introduced this item. Commissioner Cruz made a motion to elect Commissioner Terlep as the new Chair for the Transportation Commission, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. No further discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 10:46 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously. 4. Brief Overview of Parliamentary Procedure and the Sunshine Law from the Corporation Counsel Chair Terlep at 10:47 a.m., introduced this item. Deputy Corporation Counsel Tiapula explained that she was going to briefly go over parliamentary procedure and will be addressing sunshine law and briefly ethics at the next meeting. Deputy Corporation Counsel Tiapula presented an overview of Robert’s rules of order and public testimony. No further discussion was made and Deputy Corporation Counsel Tiapula turned it over to Chair Terlep who moved on to the next item. 5. Statements from the Public/Public Testimony Chair Terlep at 10:54 a.m., introduced this item with two public members present in the Puna Conference room and two public members present on Zoom. Testifiers were given the option to speak at this time or during the agenda item. No discussion on the public testimony was made and Chair Terlep moved on to the next item. 6. Approval of Minutes-November 25, 2024 Chair Terlep at 10:54 a.m., introduced this item. No corrections were proposed. Commissioner Cruz made a motion to approve the minutes presented, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. No further discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 10:55 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously. 7. New Business 1. Review taxicab applications for new Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity to operate in the County of Hawai’i. Chair Terlep at 10:55 a.m., introduced this item.  Applicant: Herrick Pimentero on behalf of Jazirh Taxi, Kailua-Kona No questions from commissioners or statements from the applicant was made. Commissioner Cruz made a motion to approve the application presented, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. A voice vote was taken. At 10:58 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously.  Applicant: Remigio Dumayag on behalf of R&A Taxi, Hilo No questions from commissioners or statements from the applicant was made. Commissioner Cruz made a motion to approve the application presented, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. A voice vote was taken. At 11:00 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously.  Applicant: James Oxley on behalf of Masakos Taxi, Kailua-Kona Discussion took place regarding the physical condition requirements for vehicles. Commissioner Cruz expressed her concerns about the applicant’s drivers abstract and the year of the vehicle that will be operated. Applicant Oxley stated that the vehicle is in good working condition and with air conditioning. Commissioner Cruz at 11:06 a.m., made a motion to approve the application presented, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. At 11:06 a.m., a voice vote was taken with 4 yays and 1 nay. After further discussion a second voice vote was taken. At 11:07 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously. 2. License revocations: Hearing on revocation of the following Certificate of Public Conveniences due to the discontinuance by the carrier of the business of transporting passengers as a common carrier of passengers operating upon and using the public highways for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days or more or failure to renew his/her taxicab license for the year. (FY 2024-2025) Chair Terlep at 11:08 a.m., introduced this item. Commissioner Cruz at 11:13 a.m., made a motion to revoke the taxi licenses presented, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. At 11:17 a.m., the motion was amended to withdraw CH 622. No further discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 11:20 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously.  CH405, CH406-Amador Cabudol dba A’s Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH622- Branden Henson dba B.H Taxi-This item was deferred to the next meeting pending submission of required documentation.  CH518-Yasuo Maruta dba B.I. Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH331, CH555-Roy Pua-Kaipo dba Da Best Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH550-Hermingildo Rafol dba Estee Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH238, CH258-Hironori Inoue dba Hawai’i Kanko-Not present. License revoked.  CH645, CH646-Leo Esteban dba Hope Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH631, CH636-Randy Llaneza dba Kai’s Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH475-Rhoniel Arenas dba Kayden Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH395-Orlino Ulibas dba Lino’s Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH479-Robert Burdman dba Malia’s Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH3-Rachel Fall dba Percy’s Taxi-Request for extension letter on file. Unable to secure all documentation needed for taxi license renewal. Not present. License revoked.  CH353-Paul Wallace dba Tradewinds Taxi & Tours-Not present. License revoked.  CH609-Villaflor Dacayanan dba Westside Taxi-Not present. License revoked.  CH572-Jonas Montgomery dba Yagi Hawaii-Not present. License revoked.  CH649-Cindy Perreira dba Z Taxi-Not present. License revoked. 8. Mass Transit Administrator’s Report Chair Terlep at 11:21 a.m., introduced this item. Acting Administrator Bergum reported on the following:  Annual ADA Training-February 2025  Received donation of Gillig bus parts from Oahu Transit Services-February 2025  Relocation of a Kona bus shelter to Pahoa Elementary bus stop-February 2025  Addition of (1) new hometown diesel bus-February 2025. 7 additional buses coming in over the next several months.  9 paratransit vans on order  Mass Transit Administrator position posted-February 2025  Pahoa Hub progress-CATEX is currently with HDOT  Continued work to implement bus stops and bus shelters island-wide Upcoming elements:  Working with Transit Vistas and Dept. of Research and Development (R&D) to update online platforms like google maps of bus route and bus stop information and updating schedules on our website. Anticipated completion of project is end of April 2025  APTA Mobility Conference-April 2025 in Austin, TX  Arrival of (4) battery electric buses-May/June 2025  Charging infrastructure with HECO will be in progress as the year proceeds  Fare-free ends on December 31, 2025. MTA reaching out to county leadership and riders for feedback on continuing fare-free  Kona hub progress-still in the planning phase with SSFM Chair Terlep at 11:26 a.m., asked commissioners if there were any questions regarding the Mass Transit Administrator’s report. Commissioner Cruz asked if the Mass Transit Agency had plans to implement bus stops at every location. Acting Administrator Bergum stated that bus stops will be implemented where the Mass Transit Agency sees bus stops are needed and where requested. Commissioner Molina at 11:27 a.m., expressed her concerns about Hele-On buses leaving earlier or later than the scheduled departure time and the need to be more consistent. She described incidents that are affecting hotel employees working in the Waikoloa area. Acting Administrator Bergum thanked Commissioner Molina for providing that information and bringing that issue to his attention. Acting Administrator Bergum explained that there are GPS systems on the Hele-On buses which can check the exact time buses are arriving and departing but he will bring this issue back to the operations team to discuss. Chair Terlep asked if there was a policy in place regarding the decision on when a bus driver can depart from a bus stop, as to which Acting Administrator Bergum said drivers must stick to the schedule unless they are given prior approval to deviate from the set scheduled times. Acting Administrator Bergum at 11:30 a.m., presented the Mass Transit Agency report and overview which included the Mass Transit Agency’s organizational structure, mission and vision statement, agency goals, fixed route bus system, paratransit services, HCEOC, Vanpool, shared ride taxi program, taxicabs, and ridership data. Chair Terlep at 11:32 a.m., asked if the Mass Transit Agency identified whether the free ridership was the driving mechanism for the increase in ridership. Acting Administrator Bergum said that it was a big part of it and that during covid the decision to go fare-free was made to help boost ridership which it did significantly. Chair Terlep also asked about future route structuring and if route structuring was also a big driver as well. Acting Administrator Bergum said that the Mass Transit Agency is currently looking at route structuring and that the department has been getting a lot of good positive feedback from the community meetings. Commissioner Matsubara at 11:33 a.m., asked about the RFP with Robert’s Hawaii. Acting Administrator Bergum explained that the contract is currently under an extension until August 2025 and that the new RFP is currently being routed which will be a 3-year contract. Commissioner Matsubara at 11:34 a.m., asked about the status of the hydrogen buses. Acting Administrator Bergum stated that US Hybrid, who would help fuel and maintain the hydrogen buses, is no longer working with the Mass Transit Agency, so as of right the two buses are not in operation. Acting Administrator Bergum said that the Mass Transit Agency is currently in the planning phases with NELHA as a new facility, base yard and staff are needed for operation. Commissioner Cruz at 11:36 a.m., asked about the battery electric buses. Acting Administrator Bergum explained that the 4 battery electric buses have been purchased and are arriving this summer. At that time, they will be exercised to see what routes they will run. Chair Terlep at 11:39 a.m., moved to close the discussion. No further discussion and Chair Terlep moved onto the next item. 9. Questions from Members of the Commission Related to the Multi-Modal Plan Chair Terlep at 11:40 a.m., introduced this item. No discussion related to the Multi-Modal Plan. Chair Terlep opened the floor for any questions or discussions before moving onto the next item. Commissioner Molina at 11:40 a.m., asked about fare-free ending in December 2025. Commissioner Molina also asked when the Commissioners will be notified regarding fares for the following years of 2026 and 2027. Chair Terlep asked what is the path that the Mass Transit Agency is headed to now and once fare-free ends what will the rider fee be. Acting Administrator Bergum said that it is currently fare-free until December 2025, and that the update will be presented at the next meeting as it is still currently in the planning phases with the new administration. Commissioner Matsubara at 11:42 a.m., asked about the operating budget and future funding. Acting Administrator Bergum explained that the Mass Transit Agency has been in close communication with the Hawaii Department of Transportation regarding future grants and funding. Chair Terlep at 11:44 a.m., closed the discussion and moved onto the next item. 10. Future Agenda Items & Next Meeting Chair Terlep at 11:44 a.m., introduced this item and asked commissioners to suggest future agenda items based on the update. Future agenda items:  Update on free ridership  Plan for hydrogen buses  Chapter 18 updates Chair Terlep at 11:46 a.m., announced that the next meeting is scheduled for Monday June 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. online and in person. 11. Adjournment Commissioner Cruz at 11:46 a.m., made a motion to adjourn, as to which Commissioner Matsubara seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 11:46 a.m. Minutes prepared by: Thaysha Genegabuas, Secretary