HELE-ON IS NOW FARE-FREE

HELE-ON IS NOW FARE-FREE
Hawaiʻi County Mass Transit Agency announced that Hele-On service is now fare-free through
December 31, 2023. Free ridership is possible due to the Department receiving $4,500,00 in
Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and $1,879,773
in American Rescue Plan Act from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) by way of the
Hawai’i Department of Transportation (HDOT). The funds are 100% Federal with no local
match necessary and are provided to help transit systems sustain their operations during the
pandemic. Upon receipt of the American Rescue Plan Act funds, the fare-free initiative should
extend another year to December 31, 2024.
“We are extremely excited to offer this improved, efficient, and critical resource to our
community at no cost,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “There are a myriad of issues contributing to a
growing cost of living, so it is our hope that providing free transportation services to our
residents will help alleviate some of that burden. We understand that Hele-On has had a bad rap
in the past but would like to encourage our residents to try it out; they may be pleasantly
surprised.”
With Hele-On accessible to all, equity and improved access to sustainable public transit islandwide for county residents and visitors are now in effect. Hele-On is also using the funds to cover the implementation of the new transit service network as planned in the 2018 Transit & MultiModal Transportation Master Plan, which increased public transit access in the Hilo, KailuaKona, Waimea, Puna, and Ka’u areas of the Island with later service, more frequent service and
added Sunday and Holiday services. The Master Plan is helping the County restore creditability
in its public transit system and allow it to be an integral part of connecting people to jobs,
education, social service, and quality of life while driving economic development. In addition,
underserved communities such as Pahoa, one of the fastest-growing areas on the Island, has
significant transit access with seven days a week transit service, paratransit service, and
additional small bus service within the many subdivisions along Highways 11 and 130.
“Higher ridership translates into increased Federal and State formula funding and creates a
positive feedback loop for Hele-On to improve and grow the island’s mobility network,” said
John Andoh, Mass Transit Administrator & General Manager.
The fare-free initiative will be an exciting addition, as Hawai’i County will be the first transit
system to offer fare-free transit in the State of Hawai’i. Providing fare-free transit will allow
those experiencing financial hardship not to worry about transportation expenses. The goal of
implementing fare-free transit is also to rebuild ridership lost over the past ten years due to
reliability issues of the transit system.
For more information about Hele-On, please call (808) 961-8744, TDD: 711 through the relay
service, email heleonbus@hawaiicounty.gov, visit www.heleonbus.org or find Hele-On Bus on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.