UH to implement bus-pass plan

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

Beginning Saturday, the University of Hawai'i-Manoa campus administration will put into effect a bus-pass plan that has the potential to take nearly 500 cars off the road, reducing morning traffic congestion and freeing up a significant number of parking spaces on campus for commuting students.

Under the proposed plan, up to 100 free bus passes will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis to faculty and staff who have parking at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa campus. An additional 375 passes will be sold each month at $18 — a one-third discount off the normal $27 cost.

The free passes will be made available one time only to UH employees who have on-campus parking permits and want to try the bus plan. After the first month, these people would give up their parking permits for the semester and purchase the discounted passes if they wish to continue.

Discounted passes will also be available to those who do not have parking permits.

"Express-bus schedules have made it possible to get to the Manoa campus quickly and easily from just about anywhere on the island," said UH spokesman Jim Manke. "We think this will offer a real incentive to people who can change their transportation habits. It could really work well for students who may have less flexibility in their schedules because of off-campus jobs or other obligations that require a car."

Those interested may call the parking office at 956-8899 or go to the parking office in Room 014 of the Queen Lili'uokalani Center for Student Services.

The $73,000 program is being subsidized by the Manoa parking office from parking operations fees.