NAWILIWILI — The County Council recently approved a bill on first reading that if passed would provide funding for the expansion of Kaua‘i Bus services. “This bill is about extending bus until 10 p.m., and on Sundays, and making all
NAWILIWILI — The County Council recently approved a bill on first reading that if passed would provide funding for the expansion of Kaua‘i Bus services.
“This bill is about extending bus until 10 p.m., and on Sundays, and making all of our citizens full participants in the community,” Councilman Tim Bynum said during a council meeting Dec. 15.
The bus currently operates Monday through Friday from 5:25 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. On Saturdays and holidays the bus runs from 6:20 a.m. to 5:50 p.m., and on Sundays there are no services available.
“I can’t let this moment pass to express my gratitude to the administration for initiating this much-needed service. I know our bus riders will be delighted,” said Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura, Chair of the council Housing, Transportation, Energy Conservation and Efficiency Committee.
Proposed Draft Bill 2390 requests the appropriation of $575,000 from the county general funds surplus to finance the services expansion.
The council set a public hearing for Jan. 12 and referred the bill to the committee, likely to take the issue on Jan. 20, a day after the opening of the state Legislature.
“I hope that those who can come to the public hearing will come and testify or submit testimony because they’ve been talking my ear off about how important this is, and we want support,” Yukimura said.
The council unanimously approved the bill’s first hearing, on a motion initiated by Yukimura and seconded by Bynum.
General public pays $2 per trip, seniors (over 60 years old) and youth (from 7-18 years old) pay $1 per trip. Children 6 and under travel free, but must be accompanied by a paying passenger.
Monthly passes are available for $25, six-month passes cost $120, and annual passes cost $240.
Paratransit service is available for individuals who qualify. Service days and hours are the same as public transportation, but arrangements for door-to-door pickups must be made 24 hours in advance, according to the county website.
The Paratransit caters to individuals certified and registered as Americans with Disabilities Act eligible.
The service also caters to human services agencies and individuals who are 60 years and older and registered with the county Transportation Agency.
Go to www.kauai.gov for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
