Better funding mechanism should help TheBus provide better service to its users

I recently received a poignant if troubling e-mail from one of our loyal, regular bus riders and I wanted to share some excerpts:

"… Are you a bus rider? If not, I encourage you to walk in our shoes for just a week. See how it feels to miss a transfer. How long will it take for you to get to where you want to go? Is that the kind of experience you want for our bus riders? … In the face of rising fuel costs and increased traffic congestion, bus ridership will and should be encouraged. … I would rather pay more for better services than pay the same amount for less services. How can you measure the loss of a person’s quality of life commuting an extra hour to get to work and back home?"

The route changes represent the city’s effort to address an impending $8 million shortfall without raising fares. But without additional funds to deal with rising costs for fuel and labor, these new route alignments might be only a temporary fix.

By Council resolution, bus fare box collections must cover no less than 27 percent but no more than 33 percent of total system operating costs. City highway and general funds, plus federal grants or subsidies cover the rest.

But the current mood in Congress jeopardizes the federal portion. We must get ahead of this and increase the fare box recovery ratio and give the city the tools to address the problem. That’s why I introduced Council Resolution 12-66, changing the ratio to 33 percent and 50 percent, and also Bill 28 to effect changes in bus fares.

TheBus is a public service that should be supported more by its users and less through taxes. Likewise, the greater burden of funding the city’s summer fun program should be on its users. In other words, you have to pay to play.

It’s not a popular position, but it’s a responsible one. The Council’s Transportation Committee approved 12-66 by a slim 3-2 margin, but amended it to keep the floor at 27 percent. The measure now goes to the Budget Committee for further consideration.

I trust that the Budget Committee members will be mindful of external factors that further strain the bus system. For example:

» Schoolchildren will be forced to use TheBus in increasing numbers as regular school bus service is cut back or cancelled.

» The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism forecasts that 2012 will be a banner year for tourism, resulting in more visitors purchasing those attractive four-day bus passes for $20.

» High gas prices will cause workers to abandon their cars.

Some will argue that the city should take the general excise tax surcharge collections dedicated for rail and apply them to other needed areas like TheBus. But they either don’t or won’t understand that under state law and city ordinance, those funds cannot be used for any other purpose.

The planned rail system’s primary route is from Hono-lulu to Kapolei. This is also the most heavily traveled corridor for bus service, with more than 70 of the 100 "peak traffic" bus routes. With future growth targeted for Leeward and Central Oahu, demand for bus service is fast approaching capacity. When the rail finally starts operations, many of those buses can be freed up and redeployed to service other areas of Oahu.

Meanwhile, I’m disturbed by images of our loyal, regular bus riders standing at the curb watching bus after bus choked full of commuters, schoolchildren and tourists, pass them by.