HELE-ON AWARDED $270,000 FOR PĀHOA TRANSIT HUB PLANNING
HELE-ON AWARDED $270,000 FOR PĀHOA TRANSIT HUB PLANNING
Hele-on, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT), received
$270,000 from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) program late last month. As a result,
the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation will receive funding to plan for a transit hub in
downtown Pāhoa in conjunction with the County and will support a fixed-route transit system to
better connect people to jobs and opportunities.
SSFM International has been selected as the consultant to complete the site selection,
environmental analysis, and 30% of the design. A public outreach process is included in this
project. Eleven sites will be looked at to determine the feasibility of a transit hub with amenities
discussed at public meetings. Additionally, the consultant team will evaluate the potential of colocating a future Pāhoa Public Library at the Transit Hub with funding from the Hawaiʻi State
Public Libraries to fund that effort.
“We are elated to hear that we will be receiving $720,000 in partnership with the HDOT to
create a much-needed, innovative facility that will serve as an excellent community focal point
for our Puna communities, once constructed,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “Creating communities
with access to affordable food, jobs, and transportation services is key to fostering a sustainable
Hawaiʻi Island where our keiki can thrive and succeed for generations to come.”
The USDOT will provide $16.2 million to fund 40 projects in 32 states and territories. FTA
grants the awards on a competitive basis to state and local governments, transit agencies, and
nonprofit organizations to create better transit for residents with limited or no transportation
options.
“For millions of people in communities big and small, transit is a lifeline,” said U.S.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Every American should have a way to get to work
affordably or school, buy fresh food, access medical care, and visit their loved ones – and these
transit grants will help make that a reality in 45 underserved communities across the country.”
The program supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 initiative and general goals of
advancing racial equity and improving public health and the environment through transportation
planning that results in new or better transit services.
AoPP grants are awarded for planning, engineering, technical studies, or financial plans to
improve transit in Census-defined low-income areas. The program also supports coordinated
human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services,
including paratransit. Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the FTA expects to
be able to support more projects in the next round of grant awards.
FTA received applications totaling close to $63 million in funding requests. Projects were
selected based on criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Information on prioryear funded projects under the program, previously known as the Helping Obtain Prosperity for
Everyone (HOPE) initiative.
“The Mass Transit Agency is excited to provide Puna with enhanced transit services and start the
formal planning effort for the Pāhoa Transit Hub,” stated John Andoh, Mass Transit
Administrator & General Manager. “We are also excited about our partnership with the Hawaiʻi
State Public Libraries and Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to
potentially plan to co-locate a library within the future hub.”
For additional Hele-On information, call (808) 961-8744 or visit www.heleonbus.org.
# # #
About Hele-On: Hele-On is a service of the County of Hawai’i Mass Transit Agency and
provides countywide public transit services on 25 fixed and flex routes countywide Hele-On
Kako’o for ADA complementary paratransit service in Hilo, Kailua-Kona, and Puna, a shared
ride taxi program with three taxi companies in Hilo, countywide seniors and persons with
disabilities transportation service in partnership with Hawaii County Economic Opportunities
Council (HCEOC) and Brantley Center, a vanpool program in partnership with Commute with
Enterprise and 10 HIBike bike-share stations in Hilo and Kailua-Kona in partnership with
PATH. Hele-On transports approximately 400,000 passenger trips annually on a fleet of more
than 30 buses, vans, and a trolley. Transit services are contracted with Roberts Hawai’i, taxicab
companies, Transdev, HCEOC, Brantley Center, Enterprise Holdings, and PATH. For additional
Hele-On information, please call (808) 961-8744, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service,
email: heleonbus@hawaiicounty.gov, or visit www.heleonbus.org.
Take The Trip!
Hele-on, in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT), received
$270,000 from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) program late last month. As a result,
the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation will receive funding to plan for a transit hub in
downtown Pāhoa in conjunction with the County and will support a fixed-route transit system to
better connect people to jobs and opportunities.
SSFM International has been selected as the consultant to complete the site selection,
environmental analysis, and 30% of the design. A public outreach process is included in this
project. Eleven sites will be looked at to determine the feasibility of a transit hub with amenities
discussed at public meetings. Additionally, the consultant team will evaluate the potential of colocating a future Pāhoa Public Library at the Transit Hub with funding from the Hawaiʻi State
Public Libraries to fund that effort.
“We are elated to hear that we will be receiving $720,000 in partnership with the HDOT to
create a much-needed, innovative facility that will serve as an excellent community focal point
for our Puna communities, once constructed,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “Creating communities
with access to affordable food, jobs, and transportation services is key to fostering a sustainable
Hawaiʻi Island where our keiki can thrive and succeed for generations to come.”
The USDOT will provide $16.2 million to fund 40 projects in 32 states and territories. FTA
grants the awards on a competitive basis to state and local governments, transit agencies, and
nonprofit organizations to create better transit for residents with limited or no transportation
options.
“For millions of people in communities big and small, transit is a lifeline,” said U.S.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Every American should have a way to get to work
affordably or school, buy fresh food, access medical care, and visit their loved ones – and these
transit grants will help make that a reality in 45 underserved communities across the country.”
The program supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 initiative and general goals of
advancing racial equity and improving public health and the environment through transportation
planning that results in new or better transit services.
AoPP grants are awarded for planning, engineering, technical studies, or financial plans to
improve transit in Census-defined low-income areas. The program also supports coordinated
human service transportation planning to improve transit service or provide new services,
including paratransit. Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the FTA expects to
be able to support more projects in the next round of grant awards.
FTA received applications totaling close to $63 million in funding requests. Projects were
selected based on criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Information on prioryear funded projects under the program, previously known as the Helping Obtain Prosperity for
Everyone (HOPE) initiative.
“The Mass Transit Agency is excited to provide Puna with enhanced transit services and start the
formal planning effort for the Pāhoa Transit Hub,” stated John Andoh, Mass Transit
Administrator & General Manager. “We are also excited about our partnership with the Hawaiʻi
State Public Libraries and Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to
potentially plan to co-locate a library within the future hub.”
For additional Hele-On information, call (808) 961-8744 or visit www.heleonbus.org.
# # #
About Hele-On: Hele-On is a service of the County of Hawai’i Mass Transit Agency and
provides countywide public transit services on 25 fixed and flex routes countywide Hele-On
Kako’o for ADA complementary paratransit service in Hilo, Kailua-Kona, and Puna, a shared
ride taxi program with three taxi companies in Hilo, countywide seniors and persons with
disabilities transportation service in partnership with Hawaii County Economic Opportunities
Council (HCEOC) and Brantley Center, a vanpool program in partnership with Commute with
Enterprise and 10 HIBike bike-share stations in Hilo and Kailua-Kona in partnership with
PATH. Hele-On transports approximately 400,000 passenger trips annually on a fleet of more
than 30 buses, vans, and a trolley. Transit services are contracted with Roberts Hawai’i, taxicab
companies, Transdev, HCEOC, Brantley Center, Enterprise Holdings, and PATH. For additional
Hele-On information, please call (808) 961-8744, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service,
email: heleonbus@hawaiicounty.gov, or visit www.heleonbus.org.
Take The Trip!
