LIHU‘E — A proposal to give Kaua‘i Community College students substantial savings in Kaua‘i Bus fares has a trade off: All students would pay for it, regardless of who rides the bus. “The cost would be distributed among the entire
LIHU‘E — A proposal to give Kaua‘i Community College students substantial savings in Kaua‘i Bus fares has a trade off: All students would pay for it, regardless of who rides the bus.
“The cost would be distributed among the entire registering population for that semester,” County Executive on Transportation Celia Mahioka told Kaua‘i County Council members Wednesday.
The council, by request of the administration, introduced on first reading Bill 2446, which proposes bus fares for registered KCC students at an 80 percent discount compared to the cost of a monthly bus bass.
Mahioka said those figures “would be equitable for both KCC and for the county,” and were reached after analyzing data collected over an 11-month period in which the county offered free bus rides for KCC students. The pilot program lasted from Aug. 22, 2011 to June 30, 2012.
“We have been in communication with the student government representatives, I spoke with Chancellor (Helen) Cox as well; they’re all very excited as we are,” Mahioka said.
An approximately 4 percent annual increase in KCC enrollment amounted to a 35 percent increase in students over the last seven years, according to a recent report prepared by the county Transportation Agency.
During the pilot project, the fare revenue waived was estimated in the report to be $6,460 per month, which amounts to $25,840 over a four-month period, equivalent to a college semester. In order to reach a revenue neutral during the college semester, the county would have to collect $25,840 from the 1,373 students estimated to enroll next spring.
“In working through the numbers, we were able to determine that it would come to about $20 (per student) per semester,” said Mahioka, adding that, “right now, it’s all estimates.”
Council Vice Chair JoAnn Yukimura said if the county is not able to get more students riding the bus, the increasing number of students will eventually force KCC to provide more parking, which will then be a cost somehow incorporated into the registration fees.
“I’m guessing the bus services will be even benefiting those students who don’t take the bus,” Yukimura said.
The bill will now go through public hearing and through the council’s Transportation Committee, where it could receive further amendments. After committee, the bill bounces back to the council for final approval or rejection. In case of approval, it would still depend on Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s signature.
If the bulk rates for KCC students is approved, the Transportation Agency’s goal is to have the fare structure approved and ready for implementation when registration for next spring term begins Nov. 12, according to the report.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
