MEDIA RELEASE
The County of Hawaii will receive $1.2 million in grant money to purchase three new buses for its Hele-On fleet.
The money comes from the Federal Transit Administration State of Good Repair grant program. The modern buses will replace three older ones being retired from the Hele-On fleet, which features 51 buses carrying 1.2 million passengers a year across Hawaii Island.
Mayor Billy Kenoi said the county plans to purchase 49-passenger motor coaches to improve and expand upon its island-wide bus service.
The new buses will be wheelchair accessible, air-conditioned, and equipped with bicycle racks.
“These funds will go a long way in helping us improve our transportation services,†Kenoi said. “They will replace buses that are over 17 years old.â€
Kenoi said U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye was instrumental in securing this grant.
“The buses we will purchase will provide a more comfortable and enjoyable riding experience for our residents,†Kenoi said. “We would like to thank Senator Inouye for his assistance in obtaining the funds for this project.”
A key strategic goal of the federal Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration is to assist municipalities with the improvement and maintenance of America’s buses and bus facilities.
About $650 million has been made available by the Federal Transit Administration to improve the condition of transit equipment across the nation.
A rose by any other name is… what was known as earmarks are now known as grants…