Expanding fare-free Maui Bus ridership (Bill 95)
Maui County
Summary
Bill 95 makes bus rides free for more people — all students, County employees, and households up to 300% of the poverty level — and lets the county run fare-free days to boost ridership. It's part of the county's climate plan to get cars off the road, at a cost of roughly $40,000 a year in forgone fares.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jul 2, 2026.
Impact analysis
Forgone fare revenue of about $2,806 per day, or roughly $40,000 if all 14 free days are used, against a $27 million transit budget.
Students, County employees, and low-income residents who ride the bus, plus everyone else on the road when more people take transit.
Mentions & discussions (5)
Agriculture, Diversification, Environment, & Public Transportation Committee — July 2, 2026
Bill 95 makes bus rides free for more people — all students, County employees, and households up to 300% of the poverty level — and lets the county run fare-free days to boost ridership. It's part of the county's climate plan to get cars off the road, at a cost of roughly $40,000 a year in forgone fares.
Agriculture, Diversification, Environment, & Public Transportation Committee — May 21, 2026
Bill 13 would update what kinds of ads can run inside Maui County buses. The proposed CD1 version broadens it to all bus advertising and clarifies rules for ads that don't promote county programs.
Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee (2025-2027) — April 21, 2026
The committee removed the age cap so students of any age — including adults going back to school — ride county buses free.
Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee (2025-2027) — April 7, 2026
The committee explored making the bus free for county employees and all students with valid IDs, with Transportation saying the fiscal impact would be minimal. Contract costs are rising 5% and ridership is up over 5%.
Agriculture, Diversification, Environment, & Public Transportation Committee — March 12, 2026
Maui Bus contractors can't hire enough CDL drivers, limiting route frequency and blocking restoration of split West Maui routes. The county is receiving new hybrid buses and vans for a microtransit pilot, but expansion hinges on drivers. Members urged workforce development.
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