"After discussions with the community, County Council and the Transportation Advisory Committee, we developed a plan two years ago to expand our public transportation services incrementally," said Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste.

The county is hoping to encourage more people to ride The Kaua'i Bus and help to alleviate some traffic congestion.

Starting Monday, several routes servicing the South Shore will be launched including routes 300, 350 and 30. Route 300 is for commuters with the first bus and will leave Kalaheo Neighborhood Center at 6:20 a.m. and arrive at Wal-Mart at 7:28 a.m. A second bus leaves an hour later.

Stops along the way include a bus stop across the Lawa'i Post Office, Koloa Telephone Exchange, Koloa School, Kukui'ula Store, Kiahuna Drive, a bus stop near the intersection of Poi'pu and Ho'owili roads, Po''pu bypass road, Koloa Post Office, Koloa ball park, a bus stop across Kaua'i Community College (KCC), Kukui Grove Center, Lihu'e Big Save, Wal-Mart, Wilcox Hospital foyer, Lihu'e Airport – Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, and the Lihu'e Courthouse.

Arriving Kaua'i visitors and residents who work at the Lihu'e Airport will be able to take route 350, which leaves the airport four times a day, 7:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. The southbound bus will make regular stops at the Lihu'e Courthouse, Wal-Mart, Wilcox Hospital foyer, Kukui Grove Center, and KCC.

Drop-offs can be made at several South Shore locations at the request of any bus rider including – Koloa ball park, Koloa NC, Koloa School, Kukui'ula Store, Kiahuna Drive, a bus stop near the intersection of Po'ipu and Ho'owili roads, Koloa bypass road, Koloa Post Office and a bus stop near the intersection of Koloa and Horita roads.

Route 30, the Koloa Shuttle, is a circular route between Koloa, Po'ipu and Kalaheo created primarily for school-age children from the South Shore to ride The Kaua'i Bus to and from after-school activities. Buses will leave Koloa ball park five times a day, starting at 1:38 p.m. and every hour after that until 5:38 p.m.

On Oct. 21, Saturday and holiday bus service changes begin with the addition of the Kapahi Shuttle, route 60, which is a circular route between Kapa'a ball park and Kapahi park.

Riders will be able to hop on a bus at the Kapa'a ball park pavilion at 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 am and 12:33 p.m., 2:33 p.m. and 4:33 p.m.

The Lihu'e Shuttle, called route 70 , is a circular route through the Lihu'e business district and airport. The starting and ending point is Kukui Grove Center.

Stops on route 70 include Kukui Grove Executive Center – HMSA building, Kmart, a bus stop across Garden Island Inn, Kaua'i High School, Lihu'e Airport – Aloha and Hawaiian airlines, Lihu'e Courthouse, Vidinha Stadium, Midpac Auto Center, Midas Auto Service, Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall, Lihu'e Big Save, Rice Shopping Center, and a bus stop across Ace Hardware – Lihu'e.

On the Lihu'e to Kekaha mainline, route 200, riders will be able to get on the bus at Lihu'e Gardens, while north shore residents will have the option to catch the bus at Kîlauea gym on routes 400 or 500.

Other new services launched this year on The Kaua'i Bus include:

i Extending bus services on Primary Election Day with later runs and additional bus stops;

iAdding feeder routes to the Wailua area and pick-up times at Lihu'e bus stops were adjusted to make it convenient for students and state and county workers to hop on the bus.

iStarting the Lihu'e Lunch Shuttle;

iAdding a new route on the Westside for students to use for after-school activities;

iAdding more hours during holidays for shoppers.

Fares are $1.50 for adults. Seniors and youths ages seven to 18 pay 75-cents for one-way travel. Children, six and under, ride free when accompanied by an adult.

The Kaua'i Bus operates Monday through Friday, 5:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. Saturday service is reduced hours and no service is available on Sundays and major holidays.