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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-06-26 Transportation Commission Meeting Minutes DRAFTTRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES JUNE 26, 2026, 9:30 A.M. HAWAI’I COUNTY BUILDING PUNA CONFERENCE ROOM (SUITE 1501) 25 AUPUNI STREET, HILO, HI 96720, AND ZOOM A video recording of this meeting is available which can be viewed on the Hele-On YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/cyp2RiQjWAk?si=j747NL7-fMlllh6L-ds CALL TO ORDER Chair Terlep called the meeting to order at 9:33 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Matthew Terlep, Chair Lloyd Matsubara, Vice Chair John McBride, Commissioner Roselyn Molina, Commissioner Chelsea Ahern, Commissioner Absent: Kristy Cruz, Commissioner A quorum was present. Also present: Jennifer Martin, Mass Transit Assistant Administrator Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel Thaysha Genegabuas, Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC/PUBLIC TESTIMONY Chair Terlep at 9:34 a.m. introduced this item with one public member present in the Puna Conference Room and one public member present on Zoom. Testifiers were given the option to speak at this time or during the agenda item. There were no statements made from the public. Chair Terlep moved onto the next agenda item. APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 27, 2026, MEETING MINUTES Chair Terlep at 9:36 a.m., introduced this item. Chair Terlep made a motion to approve the minutes presented, as to which Commissioner Molina seconded. No corrections were proposed and a voice vote was taken. At 9:36 a.m., the minutes were approved unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 1. Revocation of the following Certificates of Public Convenience & Necessity due to the failure to obtain a taxicab license for the current year within thirty days after the certificate is granted. 1. CH662-Branden Henson on behalf of BH Taxi (1)-Present. Chair Terlep at 9:37 a.m., introduced this item. Branden Henson was present on behalf of BH Taxi. Mr. Henson explained the reason why he hadn’t obtained a taxicab license is due to his current vehicle being an older vehicle and explained his plans of purchasing a new vehicle and at that time he would then reapply. Commissioner McBride asked Mr. Henson if he has operated a taxicab before and if he would be operating as just a taxi or as a taxi and PUC. Mr. Henson responded that yes, he has operated a taxi before and he would be operating as just a taxi. Deputy Corporation Counsel Wong asked if Mr. Henson would need to reapply or if the agency could give him more time. Secretary Genegabuas stated that Mr. Henson could keep the CH number that was issued to him, and the commission can decide to allow him more time to submit his taxi license application, or the other option would be he would be revoked for this CH number, and then he would need to reapply for a new certificate of public convenience and necessity and at that time would be issued a new CH number. It was ultimately up to the commission to decide. Chair Terlep asked how long the process would take. Secretary Genegabuas stated that it would be when Mr. Henson has all of his documents ready to submit to the agency which would include submitting the taxi license application, the taxicab inspection form, his current registration, current safety check, certificate of liability insurance, and the fee for the new fiscal year. If granted the extension Mr. Henson would be given a total of 180 days to submit the required documents. Deputy Corporation Counsel Wong asked if the commission allows him the extension, would he have to repay for a new application as to which Secretary Genegabuas stated that he would not need to repay for the certificate of public convenience and necessity but he would still need to submit a payment for the taxicab license as that fee Mr. Henson has not paid for yet. Chair Terlep asked Mr. Henson if he would be able to get his vehicle operational within 180 days as to which Mr. Henson replied yes. Chair Terlep made a motion to grant a 180-day extension for Mr. Henson to obtain his taxicab license, as to which Commissioner Ahern seconded. No further discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 9:41 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously. 2. CH663-Elmer Varron on behalf of Islander Taxi (1)-Not present. Chair Terlep at 9:42 a.m., introduced this item. Elmer Varron on behalf of Islander Taxi was not present. Commissioner McBride asked if this was one vehicle or one of many vehicles as to which Secretary Genegabuas stated that it was just one vehicle and that Mr. Varron wanted to start a taxicab business though was having issues obtaining commercial liability insurance. Mr. Varron let the agency know that he still had a loan on the vehicle that he was planning on operating and that he plans to reapply in two years when the vehicle is paid off. Chair Terlep made a motion to revoke CH663, as to which Commissioner McBride seconded. No further discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 9:43 a.m., the motion was carried unanimously. 2. Review taxicab applications for NEW Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity to operate in the County of Hawai’i. 1. McChris Agcaoili on behalf of MCA Taxi (1)-Not present. Chair Terlep at 9:44 a.m., introduced this item. McChris Agcaoili on behalf of MCA Taxi was not present. Secretary Genegabuas stated that Mr. Agcaoili was adding another vehicle. Mr. Agcaoili was approved for a certificate of public convenience and necessity on the March 27, 2026, transportation commission meeting, submitted all of the required documents, his fee payment and is now operating and would like to add another vehicle. Commissioner McBride asked if it was one operator with two cars or two cars with two operators as to which Secretary Genegabuas stated the information that she can provide at that time is that Mr. Agcaoili is the owner of the business and he wanted to add one more vehicle to his business. Vice Chair Matsubara made a motion to approve the application presented, as to which Commissioner Molina seconded. No further discussion and a voice vote was taken. At 9:46 a.m., the application was approved unanimously. MASS TRANSIT ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Chair Terlep at 9:46 a.m., introduced this item. Assistant Administrator Martin reported on the following: Follow up: • Discussion on the shared ride taxi program and invoice audits of the participating taxi companies. Mass Transit Agency conducts invoice audits that includes checks on mileage, GPS coordinates, and phone calls to riders to check if rides are being accurately reported. Commissioner McBride expressed his concerns about the shared ride taxi programs audits. Assistant Administrator Martin explained that the agency has had a few meetings with the shared ride taxi contractors and are currently working on the next contract to add verbiage regarding his concerns. • Update on Mass Transit Agency’s Battery Electric Bus charging station. The battery electric bus charging station is still under construction and the ETA to be up and running is early 2027. Vice Chair Matsubara asked if this was for the Kona location as to which Assistant Administrator Martin replied it is at the Hilo location. Currently there are no plans for Kona as of yet though Mass Transit Agency is currently using a contractor facility to charge the battery electric buses in Kona. • Update regarding the improvement of bus stops and bus shelters islandwide. Currently in the process of adding a bus shelter at the Keauhou shopping center area on Kamehameha III Road and in Volcano. The Keauhou shopping center bus stop has been removed and relocated to the highway. MTA is looking at adding a bus shelter at Volcano village and in Honokaa on Mamane St and Pakalana St near the Honokaa High school and is currently working with the safe school’s program. Currently waiting on state permitting for the construction of bus shelters in Papaikou and Pepeekeo. Chair Terlep asked what the timeline was for the construction of the Papaikou and Pepeekeo bus stops as to which Assistant Administrator Martin stated that Administrator Bergum had been working with the state and Department of Public Works to get that moving along but unfortunately there was no timeline at the moment. • Purchase of 7 refurbished MCI buses. The 1st bus arriving in June 2026 and remaining vehicles to arrive in the months to follow. MTA received the first of the motorcoach buses and they are looking to be put into service in the next few weeks. This vehicle will be operated on Saddle Road or on the route from Kau to Kona. Vice Chair Matsubara asked if the contractor Roberts Hawaii operates that route and if it would now be a County owned bus as to which Assistant Administrator Martin replied yes. The goal is to slowly replace Roberts Hawaii buses with County owned vehicles. The second vehicle should be arriving mid-July and another bus every month after that until the agency reaches the 7 vehicles purchased. Commissioner McBride asked about the ridership on those routes. Assistant Administrator Martin explained that those vehicles would be used on the routes with higher ridership and more passengers. Vice Chair Matsubara asked about the refurbished MCI buses and if the reasoning for purchasing these vehicles was because they are cost effective and the turnaround time is faster compared to purchasing a new vehicle as to which Assistant Administrator Martin replied that yes these buses are reconditioned and are spec’d out to be like new with new transmissions, A/C, seats and the buses should run for about a 12 year life. New report: • Jennifer Martin’s new role as the Assistant Administrator effective April 2026. • Mass Transit Agency participated in HCC’s College Day in April 2026. The goal with this college day was to get college students to learn about the different departments that the County has. The community college has a diesel mechanic and an automotive mechanic program. MTA was able to network and meet some of the professors with hopes that one day it can possibly move to an internship at some point. • Transit Program Manager for the Micro Transit Program and an Administrative Assistant position to be posted on the County of Hawai’i’s Jobs website. The Micro Transit Program manager position is a new position to the agency and would be another program/service. The goal is to use smaller vehicles in the rural communities and bring riders out to the fixed route bus service. These vehicles would operate as a circular and would be more frequent in communities that are not currently serviced. Commissioner McBride asked about the implementation of an app to notify riders of where the bus is. Assistant Administrator Martin stated that MTA recently got approval to purchase more hardware called Syncromatics or GMV. All of the vehicles that are purchased now come with GPS capabilities. The problem that MTA has seen is that not all vehicles have GPS capabilities, so the agency has been unable to partner with Google or Apple maps to get real-time passenger information to riders. The agency is starting to get more units for the buses which is going to bring the percentage up to about 95% of the fleet which qualifies MTA to get the real-time app going. The installation is slated to start ending of August 2026 which will take a month or two and then from there at least by January 2027 there should be an app that is ready for the public. • Mass Transit Agency’s Paratransit/Demand Response Transit Program Manager attended the APTA Mobility Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah in May 2026. This is an annual conference that provides networking opportunities and classroom training and is beneficial for agencies to see what else is happening in the transit industry. • Implementation of a new fleet, facility, and complaints management system with Spare Labs. This implementation will make current positions more effective, be less time consuming, and is a step forward. • Mass Transit Agency’s base yard expansion of 4-5 acres for additional bus parking. MTA is currently working with DPW to get the land cleared, fenced, graveled and/or asphalted for additional parking. • Hurricane/Tsunami Protocol Collab with Mass Transit Agency’s contractors in June 2026. Administrator Bergum and Assistant Administrator Martin attended a tsunami workshop and hurricane briefing and then had a collab with MTA’s contractors which included Roberts Hawaii and MTM transit to go over procedures should an event happen. Vice Chair Matsubara asked about the wildfires as to which Assistant Administrator Martin stated that topic was on the agenda for the next meeting with its contractors. Vice Chair Matsubara shared concerns of Waikoloa still having only one access road and that a lot of the older community do not have access to cars and depend on their neighbors for transportation. Assistant Administrator Martin stated that in events like that the Civil defense would call on Mass Transit Agency and the agency would deploy vehicles whether it be County owned vehicles or contractor owned vehicles to help with any type of evacuation services. No further discussion and Chair Terlep at 10:05 a.m. moved onto the next agenda item. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Terlep at 10:05 a.m., introduced this item. Chair Terlep suggested commissioners send agenda items prior to the next meeting. NEXT MEETING Chair Terlep at 10:05 a.m. announced that the next meeting is scheduled for Friday September 25, 2026. ADJOURNMENT Chair Terlep at 10:06 a.m., made a motion to adjourn, as to which Vice Chair Matsubara seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:06 a.m. Minutes prepared by: Thaysha Genegabuas, Secretary