The Hawaii State Department of Education is experiencing a statewide bus driver shortage, reporting roughly 550 bus drivers as opposed to the 700 needed to fill all available routes.
To mitigate the problem, the DOE has launched a new EXPRESS program, or Expanding Ridership to Educate Students in Schools. The pilot program will offer students in grades 9-12 free bus passes to utilize county transportation services.
“Like other school districts across the nation, Hawaii is addressing a shortage of school bus drivers that has led to canceled routes, schedule delays and passenger waitlists, as our contractors work hard to maintain services with fewer drivers,” said DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi in a release. “We started this school year short roughly 90 bus drivers and every bus we can reassign will help us to prioritize impacted routes at our elementary and intermediate schools.”
The program is expected to benefit more that 21,000 students statewide who are currently ineligible to use bus services because they live within the walk zone of their school campus.
“Approximately 6,000 high school students currently use school bus service to get to and from school statewide,” said Student Transportation Services Administrator Emily Evans in a release. “Students who choose to participate in EXPRESS gain access to a means of transportation that isn’t limited to school transportation; they are free to use their pass as needed.”
The Hele-On system in Hawaii County has expanded its routes to serve more students and schools across the island.
“We’re serving more destinations including more schools within walking distance on a more frequent basis,” said Hele-On Mass Transit Administrator John Andoh. “Particularly in the Hilo, Puna, Kailua-Kona and Waimea areas of the island.”
Students and residents can also access the online trip planner tool provided by Hele-On, which offers times and routes for advanced schedule planning.
“The Hele-On system is available to all students,” said Andoh. “We have on our website a list of which routes serve which DOE schools and we encourage students to take advantage of this program.”
In addition to students, the Hele-On service is free for community members through funding provided by the American Rescue Plan this year.
Roughly $560,000 will go towards passenger fares, while the remainder of the roughly $1.87 million in funding will go towards the expansion and implementation of the transportation agency’s master plan.
The free service will continue for the community until Dec. 31, 2025.
Students hoping to take advantage of the new pilot program must have an active HIDOE student ID number and may sign up this week at https://tinyurl.com/ysy4zfn3
Passes for Big Island students will be good for each month through July 2023 and will be sent directly to school offices where the passes will be distributed to students.
Students who have already paid for a second quarter pass or bus coupon can request a refund after receiving their county bus pass here https://tinyurl.com/2bmpezfs
The applications will remain open until May 26, 2023 and monthly passes will include unlimited rides for students.
“We thank our county transportation partners and our high school students for being a part of the solution,” said Hayashi.
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com