County of Hawaiʻi news release
on February 9, 2023

Following a competitive bidding process, MTM Transit is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the County of Hawai’i Mass Transit Agency (MTA) to operate its Hele-On Kako’o Island-Wide Paratransit Services. Under the contract, MTM Transit will operate every aspect of MTA’s paratransit services program, inclusive of paratransit eligibility assessments, travel training, and actual paratransit service provision.

Hele-On, the County’s public transportation system, offers complementary Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit through its Hele-On Kako’o service. Services are available to individuals with disabilities who are unable to utilize the Hele-On fixed route bus due to their disability. The system is an advanced reservation, origin-to-destination service, with service available in Hilo, Puna, and Kailua-Kona. To support its operation of the system, MTM Transit will employ a local staff of 13 teammates, including a Project Manager, a Mobility Specialist, four dispatchers, a Safety Trainer/Road Supervisor, and six Vehicle Operators, who will work out of two dedicated offices in Hilo and Kailua-Kona. This new contract adds to MTM Transit’s existing operations in Hawaii, including performing ADA eligibility assessments at The Handi-Van Eligibility Center in Honolulu.

“The Hele-On Kako’o service is imperative to help people with disabilities access the Hawai’i County community and lead happy, healthy, and productive lives,” said MTM Transit Regional Vice President Scott Transue. “We’re honored to be MTA’s single, trusted partner for eligibility assessments, travel training, and paratransit operations, and look forward to offering MTA and its passengers world-class innovation and a superior customer experience.”

Chief Operating Office Brian Balogh added, “Our operation with MTA represents an opportunity for MTM Transit to showcase the value of leveraging our eligibility assessment, travel training, and paratransit best practices to maximize program efficiency and control costs. We look forward to a long, successful relationship with the County and its Hele-On Kako’o passengers.”

“The County of Hawai’i Mass Transit Agency is pleased to have a firm like MTM Transit that has professional paratransit experience serving our operations” stated John Andoh, Mass Transit Administrator & General Manager. “We are looking forward to launching the in-person eligibility assessments, travel training, a volunteer driver program, as it provides additional mobility options for our island residents in need of mobility-based services”.

To learn more about Hele-On services, please visit heleonbus.org or call 808.961.8744, option 2, TTD/TTY: 711 for the hearing impaired.

MTM is the nation’s most trusted and qualified partner for healthcare, transportation, and logistics solutions. Since 1995, MTM has managed NEMT for state and county governments, managed care organizations, health systems, and other programs involving transportation for the disabled, underserved, and elderly. Leveraging technology to streamline processes and improve the user experience for all stakeholders, MTM’s wide spectrum of services help clients improve health outcomes, promote independence, reduce costs, and increase satisfaction. In 2009, MTM’s leadership established MTM Transit, an affiliate that provides direct paratransit and fixed route transit services. Every year, MTM and MTM Transit collectively remove community barriers for 15.4 million people by providing more than 20 million trips in 31 states and the District of Columbia. MTM and MTM Transit are privately held, woman-owned business enterprises.