Editorials
Saturday, April 7, 2001
RAISING bus fares is always a painful decision because bus riders are among society's least capable in dealing with inflation. That is why public transportation systems everywhere are heavily subsidized. After six years without a fare increase, the City Council has approved a hike that reflects a sensible policy in recognizing that the city continues to provide the lion's share of funding for TheBus but that nobody gets a free ride. Raising bus fares
is a sensible moveThe issue: The City Council
has approved bus fare increases
to take effect July 1A bus ride only eight years ago cost a mere 60 cents, a bargain anywhere. The Council then increased the single-ride price to 85 cents, and two years later, in 1995, to a dollar, where it has remained.
"By any measure, fares in Honolulu are very low," says Roger Morton, senior vice president of Oahu Transit Services, which operates TheBus.
"In a comparison with more than 20 comparable systems, our TheBus fares were the lowest in the country for larger transit systems."
However, prices for diesel fuel have skyrocketed recently and the city has added express buses and a new hub-and-spoke network to the system.
As a result, bus fares at the current rate are estimated to account for only $27 million of the bus system's $112 million budget -- roughly 25 percent -- for the fiscal year ending June 30. The rest comes from property tax revenues and other city subsidies.
Government transportation officials regard a 30-70 fare-to-subsidy funding ratio to be the industry standard. The City Council recently adopted a policy that fares pay for at least 27 percent but no more than one-third of TheBus operations.
Morton says the average cost for a bus ride is $1.48 but, of course, the average fare is much less than the single-fare dollar rate. For example, seniors comprise about one-fourth of ridership but most of them buy two-year passes for $20, so they end up paying about 2 cents a ride on average.
The fare system approved by the Council to begin on July 1 will increase single-fare rides to $1.50 and, for students, from the current half-dollar to 75 cents. Monthly fares will be $27 for adults, a $2 increase, and $13.50 for students, a dollar hike. Two-year passes for seniors will jump to $25. Handi-Van single-trip fares for the disabled, now $1.50, will rise to $2.
Mayor Harris has opposed past proposals to raise bus fares but has said he will not veto the increases approved by the Council. His decision to allow the new rates to take effect indicates agreement with the assessment of Duke Bainum, chairman of the City Council's Transportation Committee: "To get an excellent system, we have to pay for it."
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, President
John Flanagan, publisher and editor in chief 529-4748; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
Frank Bridgewater, managing editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, assistant managing editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
Lucy Young-Oda, assistant managing editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.com The Honolulu Star-Bulletin (USPS 249460) is published daily by
Oahu Publications at 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, Hawaii. Postmaster: Send address changes to
Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.
