Council Approves Discounted Six-Month Hele-On Bus Pass

Regular riders of the county’s Hele-On Bus system would have an opportunity to save money on fares under a pilot program approved last week by the County Council.

If the bill passes muster from Mayor Billy Kenoi, the county’s Mass Transit Agency would offer a pass for unlimited rides for the six-month period from Jan. 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014. The cost would be $175 for seniors age 60 and over, students and the disabled. All others will pay $250.

Currently, monthly passes for unlimited rides cost $45 and $60, respectively, which means over the life of the pass the semi-annual program would save $95 for seniors, students and the disabled, and $110 for others.

Pre-purchased sheets of ten tickets can also be purchased at a cost $7.50 and $15 for the two categories. There are no expiration dates for the sheet tickets.

Individual tickets cost $2 for the general public and $1 for the discounted fares.

There are also additional charges of $1 for bicycles and each package brought on board the bus with a dimension greater than 16 inches by 10 inches.

Council members initially considered a year-long pilot program for the unlimited rides. But they wanted it to run on a calendar-year basis, and county administrators said that would have conflicted with the county’s fiscal year which runs from July 1 to June 30.