FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2003

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS TO BE OPENED TO PROCESS NEW SENIOR/DISABLED BUS PASSES

            Senior and disabled citizens will be able to obtain their new bus passes and identification cards beginning Monday (October 6) at TheBus offices at 811 Middle Street in addition to the Blaisdell Center (Hawaii Suite).

            TheBus office is among a list of new locations that the City will open in the coming weeks around Oahu to assist seniors and disabled citizens.

            “We ask that people not rush down to Blaisdell Center or TheBus office first thing on Monday,” said Carol Costa, City Customer Services Director.  “Bus passes for seniors and the disabled will be honored until November 1, so there should be sufficient time for bus riders to visit one of the available locations over the next few weeks.”

            The following is a schedule and listing of locations where senior and disabled citizens can go for their new bus passes:

·        Monday through October 10 (7:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.):   Neal Blaisdell Center, Hawaii Suite.

·        Beginning Monday and running continuously on weekdays (7:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m.):   TheBus office,  811 Middle Street.

·        October 13 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.):  Wahiawa District Park, Pearlridge Satellite City Hall, Windward Mall Center Court area.

·        October 14 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.):  Waimanalo District Park, Pearlridge Satellite City Hall, Windward Mall Center Court area.

·        October 15 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.):  Makua Ali’i Senior Citizen Center, Pearlridge Satellite City Hall, Windward Mall Center Court area.

·        October 16 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.):  Kaneohe Community  Center, Pearlridge Satellite City Hall, Windward Mall Center Court area.

·        October 17 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.):  Pearlridge Satellite City Hall, Windward Mall Center Court area.

·        October 21-24 (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.):  Blaisdell Center, Hawaii Suite

                 The Department of Transportation Service is looking for additional sites in the

 community where seniors and disabled riders can process their ID cards and purchase their bus

passes.

            Existing senior (age 65 and older) and disabled bus passes will be valid until

November 1. After that date, these passengers will have four payment options for riding TheBus:

• Purchase an annual bus pass for $30. These passes will now have a photo of the purchaser. (There is no added $10 fee for the new pass.)
• Disabled riders with an existing bus pass will not have to produce medical verification of their disability when purchasing a new pass.
• Buy a monthly pass for $5. To use the pass, a rider must also have a photo identification card, which will be sold for $10 at processing centers. The photo ID card is valid for four years.
• Pay a reduced rate of $1 per ride using the identification card.  Again, an ID card costing $10 is required.

• Pay the normal fare of $2 per ride. No ID is needed.

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