Bus fares going up this week

LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Bus announced a fare increase effective Friday, Jan. 1, and a new design for its 2021 monthly bus passes.

The Kaua‘i Bus 2021 monthly bus pass will have a scratch-off activation similar to the current, one-day pass. Riders will need to scratch off the month and year to validate the pass prior to boarding the bus.

Additionally, as part of recommendations provided by Kaua‘i’s Short Range Transit Plan approved in 2018, the second phase of The Kaua‘i Bus’ new fare structure and fare increases will take effect Jan. 1. In order to avoid the fee increase, purchase passes by this Thursday, Dec. 31,

The new fare structure is as follows:

• One-day passes for the general public will increase from $4 to $5;

• One-day passes for seniors ages 65 and over, youth ages 7 to 18 and qualified discount cardholders will increase from $2 to $2.50;

• Monthly passes for the general public will increase from $45 to $50;

• Monthly passes for seniors ages 65 and over, youth ages 7 to 18 and qualified discount cardholders will increase from $22.50 to $25;

• Annual passes for the general public will increase from $500 to $550;

• Annual passes for seniors ages 65 and over, youth ages 7 to 18 and qualified discount cardholders will increase from $250 to $275.

Monthly and one-day bus passes are currently available at all Menehune Food Mart locations, as well as Aloha Island Mart at the Kapa‘a Shell gas station, the County of Kaua‘i’s Treasury Division, and The Kaua‘i Bus office in Lihu‘e. Starting Jan. 21, monthly and one-day bus passes will be available at all Kaua‘i Big Save and Times locations.

For more information, visit kauai.gov/transportation, the county and The Kaua‘i Bus Facebook pages, or call 246-8110.