Blessing Held for Phase Two of Islandwide Bus Shelter Project

A blessing was held on Tuesday at the Nāwiliwili bus stop near Wilcox Road to mark the start of construction for phase two of the three-phase islandwide bus stop passenger shelter project.

“We are very excited to start the next phase of the bus shelter project as it has been one of our administration’s top priorities to shelter all of our bus stops islandwide,” stated Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. “We are incredibly grateful to our state legislators and council members for their support of this ongoing initiative, and to the many volunteers who helped to erect the first six bus shelters on the island.”

In 2014, the state legislature provided $600,000 to fund this phase of the project, which is expected to result in an additional 17 bus stops to be improved and sheltered. Each of the new shelter locations will include a bike rack, trash receptacles and photovoltaic lighting which offers a safe, comfortable and more pleasant waiting area for transit riders.

Alaea Construction is the contractor for this phase of the project, which is expected to be complete by the end of this year.

The legislature allocated an additional $1.5M in 2015 to fund the third and final phase of construction. The county aims to shelter 49 bus stops by the end of 2017 as part of Mayor Carvalho’s Holo Holo 2020 vision.

The vision calls for all organizations, businesses, residents and visitors on Kaua‘i to be part of creating an island that is sustainable, values the native culture, has a thriving and healthy economy, cares for all – keiki to kupuna – and has a responsible and user-friendly government.

To view a complete list of Holo Holo 2020 projects, please go to the county website, www.kauai.gov.

For more information about the bus shelter project, please call the Transportation Agency at 246-8110.

PHOTO, L-R: Bob Robertson of the Kaua‘i North Shore Lions Club; Former Mayor Maryanne Kusaka; Rep. Jimmy Tokioka; Kaulana Finn, field representative for U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard; Governor Ige’s Kaua‘i Liaison Representative Carrice Gardner; Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr; Rep. Derek Kawakami; and Councilmembers JoAnn Yukimura, Mason Chock, and Kīpūkai Kualii participate in a blessing by Kahu Jade Wai’ale’ale Battad at a bus stop near Wilcox Road in Līhu‘e to mark the start of the second phase of islandwide bus stop passenger shelter project.