Honolulu Department of Transportation Services

What Honolulu Department of Transportation Services does

The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS) is a municipal government department of the City and County of Honolulu responsible for managing ground transportation infrastructure and public transit services on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii. DTS operates three primary service lines: TheBus, an island-wide fixed-route public bus network; Skyline, an automated guideway transit (rail) system launched in 2023 that now connects East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center; and TheHandi-Van, a paratransit service for residents with disabilities. The department also administers the Holo Card contactless fare payment system used across bus and rail services, traffic camera infrastructure for real-time incident information, and road repaving and permitting functions.

DTS's technology footprint is built around conventional transit operations systems: an automated guideway control system for Skyline, a unified Holo Card fare-collection platform across modes, and public-facing digital channels (the city website, Holo Card site, and social media) for rider information and customer service. The department is led by Director J. Roger Morton and Deputy Director Hong Li, operating under Mayor Rick Blangiardi, and is staffed within the City and County of Honolulu's broader 10,500+-employee workforce; DTS-specific headcount is not disclosed.

As a municipal entity, DTS does not generate commercial revenue in the traditional sense. The department is funded through annual City and County of Honolulu budget allocations, supplemented by fare revenue from TheBus, Skyline, and TheHandi-Van riders on a pay-as-you-go basis, with a revised fare structure effective July 1, 2026. DTS serves O'ahu residents and visitors under a government franchise, coordinates with the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) on rail construction and with the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OahuMPO) on regional transportation planning, and was recognized by Travel + Leisure in 2026 among the top public transit cities in America.

Name

Honolulu Department of Transportation Services

Legal name

City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services

Website

https://honolulu.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services is the municipal government department that operates TheBus, Skyline rail, and TheHandi-Van paratransit services for O'ahu residents and visitors under the City and County of Honolulu.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transit Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Urban Transit Systems (4851), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIACAM

Local Transportation, Parking & Mobility Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYTLAFAGAL

Public Transit Bus Operator Authorities & Agencies (Planning/Fare/Admin)

Transportation & Logistics/Passenger Transportation (Air, Rail, Bus, Taxi/Rideshare)/Public Transit Bus Operators (Municipal/Regional)

Keywords

• Public bus transit
• Automated rail transit
• Paratransit services
• Fare collection systems
• Transportation infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Public Transit Fares: Revenue from TheBus, Skyline rail, and TheHandi-Van paratransit fares collected from riders

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Honolulu Department of Transportation Services operates the island's public transit network, providing fixed-route bus service (TheBus), automated guideway rail transit (Skyline), and ADA-compliant paratransit service (TheHandi-Van) for Oahu residents and visitors. The department also manages the integrated Holo Card contactless fare payment system, traffic camera infrastructure for real-time traffic information, and road repaving scheduling.

Product overview

The Department of Transportation Services operates a multi-modal public transit system including TheBus (fixed-route bus service), Skyline (automated guideway transit), and TheHandi-Van (paratransit service). The department also manages the Holo Card fare payment system, traffic camera infrastructure, and road maintenance scheduling. These services collectively serve Oahu residents and visitors with comprehensive ground transportation options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TheBus: Public bus transit service operated by DTS, providing fixed-route bus service across O'ahu.
• Skyline
• TheHandi-Van

Products and services

• TheBus
• Skyline
• TheHandi-Van
• Holo Card
• Traffic Cameras

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHART is the semi-autonomous agency responsible for developing and constructing the Skyline rail transit project. DTS works with HART on transit operations and planning for the Skyline system.
• Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OahuMPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOahuMPO coordinates transportation planning for the Oahu region. DTS participates in OahuMPO Policy Board and Technical Advisory Committee meetings for regional transportation planning.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS): Public transit agency operating bus, light rail (Trolley), and paratransit in the San Diego region. Comparable to DTS as a mid-size multi-modal transit operator with bus, rail, and accessible services under one brand.
• Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works: County-level transit operator providing Metrobus, Metrorail, Metromover, and Special Transportation Service paratransit. Highly comparable to DTS as a government-run multi-modal transit department with bus, rail, and paratransit.
• Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet): Portland-area transit operator with bus, light rail (MAX), and paratransit (LIFT). Comparable to DTS as a multi-modal municipal transit agency with bus, rail, and ADA paratransit services and a unified fare system (Hop Fastpass).
• King County Metro Transit (Seattle): Public transit division of King County government, operating bus, light rail coordination, and paratransit (Access). Comparable to DTS as a county/municipal-government-operated multi-modal transit service provider.
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA): Municipal transit department operating Muni bus, light rail, historic streetcar, and paratransit in San Francisco. Closest structural peer to DTS as a city-department-run multi-modal transit operator with bus, rail, and paratransit services.

Broad incumbents

• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): Operates Metrorail, Metrobus, and MetroAccess paratransit in the Washington DC region. Comparable to DTS as a multi-modal transit agency with bus, rail, and ADA paratransit services under a single brand.
• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA): Operates bus, subway, commuter rail, ferry, and paratransit in greater Boston. Comparable to DTS as a large multi-modal public transit agency with bus, rail, and accessibility services.
• Chicago Transit Authority (CTA): Operator of bus and 'L' rail service in Chicago, serving as the city's primary public transit provider. Comparable to DTS as an urban bus-plus-rail transit operator with a unified fare system.
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro): Major US urban transit operator with bus, light rail, subway, and paratransit services. Comparable to DTS as a multi-modal municipal transit agency with active rail expansion and integrated fare collection.
• New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA): Largest US municipal transit operator, providing integrated bus, subway, commuter rail, and paratransit. Comparable to DTS as a multi-modal public transit authority with government ownership and a unified fare system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hnldts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC08i641vO8pW1pqhdvYmR4A
• Facebookfacebook.com/HNLDTS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-and-county-of-honolulu-department-of-transportation-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/hnl.dts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Honolulu Department of Transportation Services