New Kaua'i bus routes ease workers' commutes | The Honolulu Advertiser

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New Kaua'i bus routes ease workers' commutes | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Monday, October 16, 2006

New Kaua'i bus routes ease workers' commutes

Advertiser Staff

The Kaua'i Bus announced new routes, expanded hours and new bus stops, beginning today.

"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 today, several routes serving the South Shore will be launched, including routes 300, 350 and 30.

Route 300 is for commuters, with the first bus leaving Kalaheo Neighborhood Center at 6:20 a.m. and arriving 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 Po'ipu and Ho'owili roads, Po'ipu bypass road, Koloa Post Office, Koloa ball park, a bus stop across Kaua'i Community College, Kukui Grove Center, Lihu'e Big Save, Wal-Mart, Wilcox Hospital foyer, Lihu'e Airport at Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, and the Lihu'e Courthouse.

Route 350 will help arriving Kaua'i visitors and residents who work at the Lihu'e Airport, with departures from the airport at 7:45 a.m., and 12:30, 4:30 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 Kaua'i Community College.

At the request of any bus rider, drop-offs can be made at several South Shore locations, 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 serving Koloa, Po'ipu and Kalaheo, created primarily for school-age children from the South Shore to ride to and from afterschool 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.

Route 60, the Kapahi Shuttle, launches Saturday. The circular route runs 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 and 8:30 a.m.; and 12:33, 2:33 and 4:33 p.m.

Route 70, the Lihu'e Shuttle, 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 in Lihu'e.

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

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

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

Adding feeder routes to the Wailua area and adjusting pickup times at Lihu'e bus stops to make it convenient for students and state and county workers to hop on the bus.

Starting the Lihu'e Lunch Shuttle;

Adding a new route on the west side for students to use for afterschool activities; and

Adding more hours for shoppers during holidays.

Fare is $1.50 for adults. Seniors and youths ages 7 to 18 pay 75 cents for one-way travel. Children age 6 or younger 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 on reduced hours, and no service is available on Sundays and major holidays.

For more information about The Kaua'i Bus, see the county's Web site, www.kauai.gov, or contact the Transportation Agency at (808) 241-6410.

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