Hele-On now using technological tools to help make riding transit easier

The County of Hawaiʻi Mass Transit Agency (Hele-On) has implemented several advancements, including trip planning, automated vehicle location, mobile fare payment, social media use and an app, to help make riding transit easier.  

Passengers can obtain all Hele-On route and schedule information on Google Transit through Google Maps, as well as Microsoft Bing Transit through Microsoft Bing Maps and soon on Apple Maps. The trip planner tool on these apps and websites will provide transit options for trips anywhere on Hawaiʻi Island and can compare to walking, biking and driving.  

A passenger can enter the necessary information in the trip planner by either street address, cross streets or major landmarks along with the trip date and desired arrival or departure times – for same-day service or many weeks in advance. The trip planner will then display several options from which to choose. Each option will include directions to and from the nearest bus stop, applicable route numbers including any transfer information and total travel times for each trip option. 

“We’re excited to make our Hele-On bus system even more accessible,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “Our residents deserve a bus system that is responsive, reliable and able to suit the needs of our various communities, and we are extremely proud of the work that is being done to achieve those goals. It’s our hope that folks take advantage of these new tools and take the ride on one of our many routes soon.” 

For the Hele-On buses assigned to Routes 60, 76/Green, 301 and 403, passengers can track their buses in real-time by visiting www.myheleonbus.org. Powered by GMV Syncromatics, this feature will show specific details such as where the bus is, if it is early or late, how full the bus is and the next stop. An additional four buses will receive this technology next year. Ultimately, the goal is to have the entire fleet outfitted with an automated vehicle locator system similar to what GMV provides. 

Additionally, Roberts Hawaiʻi, the county’s transit operations contractor, uses Green Road, an internal automated vehicle locator system that allows their dispatchers and the Mass Transit Agency staff to track where all the buses are in real-time for when passengers call requesting a status update. The system is installed on 21 of the agency’s 49 buses with the goal of completing the fleet in March 2022. 

Passengers can purchase their fares using a credit card or a gift card with Visa or Mastercard logo through the Token Transit app, which is also incorporated into the Moovit app. All single rides, 15 ticket sheets, monthly passes and paratransit coupons are available through this app. Token Transit is available through Google Play and the App Store, online and select Hele-On.  

Hele-On has an innovative partnership with Moovit, which provides a mobility as a service app and a trip planner available online or through the Moovit app available through Google Play or App Store. Moovit allows passengers to plan a trip, purchase a Hele-On one way, 15 ride ticket book, paratransit coupon or monthly pass to ride the bus and track HIBIKE availability in Hilo and Kailua-Kona. Additionally, passengers can schedule Lyft and Uber rides through this app. 

Hele-on is also on social media. 

These new tools were recommended by the Transit and Multi-Modal Transportation Master Plan. It will provide a convenient and accessible form of transit schedule information and make riding transit easier. The continued implementation of the Master Plan addresses Mayor Mitch Roth’s vision for sustainable living on Hawai’i Island.  

“Such information on transit options improves the overall quality of service and encourages casual users, non-locals and social service agencies as well as regular transit riders to make greater use of public transit services here on Hawai’i Island,” said John Andoh, Mass Transit administrator.