Public testimony opposes fare increases proposed by the city and county of Honolulu and other changes to TheBus and rail that could take effect in July 2025.

The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is proposing a $10 increase for monthly adult passes and a $110 increase for annual passes, bringing them to $90 and $990, respectively.

The youth monthly pass would increase from $40 to $45, and the annual pass would increase from $440 to $495.

Monthly rates for seniors and Medicare HOLO card users would actually be cut in half from $20 to $10, but annual subscriptions would increase from $45 to $50.

At a meeting of the Honolulu Fare Commission on Tuesday, resident Curtis Hayashi said fare increases for public transportation should be imposed on tourists.

“Instead of raising fares for local residents, children and adults, I encourage the Honolulu Fare Commission to raise fares for the 7-day adult pass, typically purchased by tourists and visitors…without fare increases for youth passes” , Hayashi said in his testimony.

DTS has proposed a $5 increase for 7-day passes, which currently cost $30. But Hayashi proposed a price of $40 for those subscriptions.

“We should encourage residents to use public transportation, and that starts with not raising public transportation fares for residents, especially children,” Hayashi added.

DTS also requested a $0.25 base fare increase for discounted single rides, including senior residents and Medicare cardholders. Another significant fare proposal is a $0.25 surcharge on all categories of single cash paid rides. For example, a senior citizen buying a single ride with cash would pay $1.75, up from the current $1.25.

A regular adult HOLO card rate for a single ride will remain $3, which last increased in 2022 from $2.75.

Casey Harlow

/

Hawaii Public Radio

DTS director Roger Morton said public transport plans to phase out cash entirely and wants to encourage the use of HOLO cards.

He said the department generated $11 million in bus cash revenue last year and it cost $4 million to process and manage that money. He said that cash income from TheBus is declining and at some point the cost of processing cash will be greater than the cash income generated.

“The overwhelming cost of managing money … leads us to look for a goal where we actually have a bus more like an airplane, where you don’t pay when you get on the plane, you’ve already factored in the fare.” Morton said.

DTS will introduce open payments next year, meaning travelers will be able to pay with a credit card. Witnesses expressed concern about the public’s ability to access the bus without a cash option.

“I have reservations about going full digital because of things that go wrong with our electronics, like cyber attacks as well as equipment failure,” said Donald Sakamoto, president of Citizens for a Fair ADA Ride.

In June, a cyberattack hit HOLO card readers on city buses. Sakamoto is concerned that electronic vulnerabilities could leave travelers without a way to pay for bus tickets if cash payments were eliminated.

DTS said its fare proposals would generate an additional $4.4 million for the city and help cover increased operating costs for TheBus and future costs with the next segment of The Skyline Rail is complete.

The Honolulu Rate Commission will continue to collect public testimony on the proposed rates and plans to make a recommendation in March 2025.