I have written many letters of opinion on this subject and over the years. Its track record has shown us that our council continues to throw millions of dollars of subsidization at it thinking it will improve.
I feel one of the most important things it needs to create among many is a tool to combat our traffic issues. Existing, it’s the wrong kind of system for the island, and the continuance of throwing hard-earned tax dollars at it is a waste of time.
The idea of having public transportation is very important and the council’s efforts are applauded. However, the one we have no matter what you try will never be what is needed.
I see our current system is not cost-effective, inefficient, and is not by any means equipped to offer the many needs it must have in order to get people to use it, and especially our tourist friends who add thousands of cars to our daily traffic congestion because of it.
I have said it before and I’ll continue to say it again, “we need a sophisticated, cost-effective, people-moving network, second-to-none shuttle system, preferably electric powered and equipped to meet all the needs of transportation for tourists with luggage and residents’ needs alike.”
The shuttles should run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We should create “shuttle zone” areas around the island that would cost-effectively move people anywhere they desire in their area or to the next shuttle zone area. Depending on the area, different-sized shuttles should be used.
One zone at the airport could take tourists to hotels and resorts locally and other shuttles could take tourists to the zone that will accommodate their needs. The costs of implementing such a system would be less because more people would use it for its benefits.
The county subsidy would be far less, tourists would pay a flat fee that allows them transportation 24 hours a day anywhere during their stay. Hotels, resorts and businesses would pay based on consumers who use them. Resident use could be validated by services they use which would be paid by others. Businesses and services offered get advertising on shuttles.
This system would create many related businesses, hundreds of jobs and more tax money for the county and state. And, yes, for the rental car business there will be those who no matter what are going to rent a car. A system like this I see as a huge reduction in our traffic congestion and a big increase to our existing economy, less pollution to our environment, and a role model for tourist economy destinations like ours which also have the exact same problems that we are experiencing here.
If we don’t do something now the paradise we have known will sadly become a lifestyle and tourist destination of the past.
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Steve Martin is a resident of Kapaa.
