Kapa‘a, Hanama‘ulu bus shelters to receive ADA improvements

LIHU‘E — Construction crew members were retrofitting the Kaua‘i Bus shelter by the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center this week to accommodate persons with disabilities. Similar improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be made at Hanama‘ulu’s Kalepa Village bus stop, county spokeswoman Beth Tokioka said.

“This is part of a contract for ADA improvements to bus stops that is being managed by the (county) Transportation Agency,” she said.

The contract, which is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 31,  includes the paving of the majority of unpaved bus stops and the installation of safety railings at certain locations such as the Hanapepe Armory and Kalepa Village stops, Tokioka said.

The Kalepa Village stop will need to be moved about 50 feet eastward, she said. The project in Kapa‘a will also involve replacing the fence around the neighborhood center’s lawn that faces Kuhio Highway.

“Also, there was a donation of a bench to the Kapa‘a community made by the Kamehameha Schools’ Kali‘imamo program,” Tokioka said, adding that the bench will be installed by the contractor at the neighborhood center bus stop. 

A special dedication for the Kapa‘a bus stop improvements and the new bench will be held Jan. 11,  prior to Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s community outreach meeting at the neighborhood center at 6 p.m.

County Transportation Executive Celia Mahioka said at a council meeting April 25 that there are 124 bus stops islandwide, but only seven have county-provided shelters. An extra 29 are in facilities that don’t require shelters, leaving 88 bus stops, or 71 percent, unsheltered.

“The sheltering of all bus stops on Kaua’i is part of the mayor’s Holo Holo 2020 vision and something that he has been talking about for a year no,” Tokioka said.

• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.