City Council OKs bus fare increases

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

The Honolulu City Council yesterday voted 8-1 to raise bus fares for all riders as of July 1.

Council members favored the increase as a way to shift more of the burden of running the system on the riders who use it and less on the rest of taxpayers who subsidize most of the operating costs.

Single-ride cash fares for adults will rise from $1 to $1.50 for adults and from 50 cents to 75 cents for students.

The single-ride cash fare for senior citizens and people with disabilities is going from 50 cents to 75 cents.

Monthly bus passes will increase from $25 to $27; student bus passes will go from $12.50 to $13.50.

The two-year pass available to senior citizens and people with disabilities will go from $20 to $25.

The council also approved a new $300 annual pass for adults.

The bill would allow for the city Department of Transportation Services to sell discounted tokens for adult riders at a cost of 10 tokens for $13.50.

Councilman Andy Mirikitani was the only council member to oppose the fare increase.

He said he believes that the city needs to work harder to provide core services to the community and keep bus rates the same.

"This is just another increase on our working families," Mirikitani said.

The city bus system is operated by the private Oahu Transit Services Inc.

Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris has expressed concern that increasing the price of riding on public transit could prompt fewer people to ride at a time when the city's policy is to encourage them to ride.

However, he has said he will not veto an increase approved by the council.