FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       June 28, 2007

Release No. M-70-07

CITY GETS $3 MILLION

TO LAUNCH COMMUTER FERRY SERVICE

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced that the City has executed a $3-million grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration for the commuter ferry service linking Kalaeloa on Oahu’s west side with downtown Honolulu.  This federal grant allows the City to prepare and operate the ferry demonstration service, beginning this summer.

            Mayor Hannemann said, “At long last, we’re ready to begin our intra-island demonstration ferry that will give commuters an alternative to rush-hour traffic congestion.  It’s part of our multimodal approach to transportation, where we offer a variety of transit choices to residents, whether it be the bus, ferry, or other modes of public transportation.  When our fixed guideway system begins, and we combine that with the transit-oriented improvements to encourage walking and bicycling, we’ll only build on the foundation we’re creating today with this new ferry service.”

            Hannemann credited U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye for backing the ferry project, saying, “We’ve come this far because of the staunch support of our senior senator, who has been with us from the beginning.”

            Two vessels will be operating during the year-long project, the Melissa Ann and the Rachel Marie.  The ferries will carry passengers from Kalaeloa Harbor to Honolulu Harbor in the morning and reverse the route in the afternoon.

            Unlike the previous ferry demonstration, a new City bus service will be integrated into the system.  Commuters from the West Oahu will catch buses at designated locations for direct shuttle service to the ferry.  Upon arrival at Honolulu Harbor, buses will be waiting to take them to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and Waikiki via Ala Moana.  The pau hana route is the reverse.

            The two 72-foot vessels, which are identical, can carry up to 149 passengers and are wheelchair-accessible.  The vessels with have space to carry about 10 bicycles on-board.

            The ships currently are in Seattle, where they had been in operation.  They will be dry-docked for maintenance and inspection over the next month.  The vessels then will be shipped to Honolulu, with arrival expected around mid August.  Service is expected to begin in conjunction with the “Beat the School Jam” campaign in September.

            The tentative ferry schedule is as follows:

Morning (3 trips)

Depart Kalaeloa          Arrive Aloha Tower

5:30 a.m.                     6:30 a.m.

6:00 a.m.                     7:00 a.m.

8:00 a.m.                     9:00 a.m.

Afternoon (3 trips)

Depart Aloha Tower   Arrive Kalaeloa

4:00 p.m.                     5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.                     6:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.                     7:30 p.m.

Morning bus shuttle service (reverse direction in afternoon):

Kalaeloa Pier

Waianae Transit Center to ferry pier

Villages of Kapolei to ferry pier

Makakilo to ferry pier

Aloha Tower

Aloha Tower to University of Hawaii

Aloha Tower to Waikiki via Ala Moana

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Contact:

Melvin Kaku, Director, 768-8303

Bill Brennan, 527-6928