School bus fare increase criticized
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KANE'OHE — A proposal to double school-bus fares and to reduce the number of students served got a cold reception last night at the first public hearing on the issue on O'ahu.
A crowd of 50 to 60 people that included lawmakers, bus drivers, parents and businessmen turned out at King Intermediate School to comment on the Board of Education's plan, including a person who brought a petition with 1,557 names of people who objected to the fare increase.
People testifying predicted fewer children would ride the bus and said that would generate more traffic congestion and unsafe conditions on the roads as students walk, ride with parents or drive themselves to school.
"The impact (of the proposed rate increase) will not be positive," said state Sen. Bob Nakata before the meeting.
Windward school officials agreed.
"The reason for our opposition is one clear simple thing and that is student safety," said Lea Albert, Windward District superintendent. Citing a national study, Albert said students are eight times safer on school buses than in their family cars.
The state wants to double the bus fare for a one-way ride from 25 cents to 50 cents. Under the proposal, the state would also reduce service to students who live close to school by increasing the qualifying distance for a school-bus ride from one mile to 1 1/2 miles for middle/intermediate school students and from one mile to two for high school students.
BOE officials say the changes are necessary to help pull the school transportation budget out of the red.
The school bus program has a $22 million annual budget, but will have a $2.8 million deficit this year, officials said. Each child's ride costs the district about $2.50, officials say.
The last school bus fare increase was in 1995, when the fare rose from 10 cents to 25 cents.
Officials say 16,000 to 17,000 students pay the bus fare daily, and an estimated 12,000 low-income students ride for free.
In the meeting Nakata, D-23rd (Kane'ohe, Kahuku) said the proposal is a regressive tax that puts a burden on poor people and that state legislators should resolve the issue.
Bus driver and lobbyist Ken LeVasseur said that if the fee is raised, more students would ride the city bus, costing school bus businesses between 100 to 200 jobs.
Students will be able to purchase a school bus pass for 5 percent savings, but the city bus pass offers more rides.
A one-month city bus pass costs $13.50 for students.
"The prepaid school bus pass is only good for school bus rides and of no use whatsoever over the weekend and at night," LeVasseur said.
The next public hearing on the proposed bus fare increase will be at 6:30 p.m. today at Wilcox Elementary School on Kaua'i. The next hearing on O'ahu is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at 'Aiea Elementary School.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
