2015-26 MTS minutes 26May15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Communication No. 2015 -26 PCDP Mass Transit Subcommittee minutes, May 26, 2015 In attendance: June Conant, Rusty Jones, and Jon Olson. Hannah Hedrick and Stephanie Bath sent email input. Thanks to Danny Paleka, District 5 Councilman, the county mass transit study funds have been included in the 2015 -2016 Hawaii County budget. He took June's CIP request for a $200,000 study which had been submitted in Jan, 2014, increased it to $500,000 and submitted it in the new budget. He is championing the MT study and said he has received support from the other council members. He is very much aware that plans as stated in the county's CDPs must be considered. The committee decided that a letter should be sent to Danny with a copy to Ttiffany Kai regarding two concerns before a consultant is chosen. Those two concerns are: a MT advisory group needs to be formed to assist with the project and the consultant needs to be well versed in rural transit systems. Hannah and Steph had submitted by email a number of items that are concerns to be considered, but it was decided to focus on those in the next few meetings so they will be ready to present in the next few months. During the meeting, a gentleman who had come for another meeting overheard what was being discussed and he made a suggestion that we investigate creating an MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) in conjunction with Maui and Kauai to have more clout on the federal level. He gave us information for the Oahu MPO and how to contact its executive director to learn more. Also, on his IPAD, he showed us information on a Rural Public and Intercity Bus Conference held last October in Monterey and sent the link to June. He had experience and knowledge of how Hawaii County, state and federal governments work with subjects such as this and strongly suggested that we contact Mitch Roth, County Prosecutor and Brian Schatz, US Senator for assistance and guidance. He gave us some interesting tips for researching. Rusty said he will start searching for a county or area similar to ours to learn how they establish transit systems. June had the opportunity to follow the Keaukaha bus from the mall to the airport a week ago and verified that the bus does drive down the Post Office service road, so our request to include that "detour" was heard. On Monday, May 18, June did attend a special meeting of the County Council to testify as herself for the support of Bill 29, Communication 144.4 which is the request for the traffic plan. Going forward, the committee will begin the planning for possible hub and spoke routes so they will be ready when a consultant is being considered. June will ask Bill Hansen at Civil Defense for maps and census blocks for 4 main areas: 1.) Nanvale, Leilani, Kapoho, Kalapana and Pahoa, 2.) Hawaiian Beaches and HPP, 3.) Ainaloa, Orchidland, and Hawaiian Acres, and 4.) Fern Acres to Volcano. Even thought the PCDP will not meet in July, it was decided that our committee will meet Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 3:30 pm. Respectfully submitted, June Conant