By Aug. 1, all services will be at one location The Kaua’i County Transportation Agency began moving into its new digs last weekend. The agency is consolidating and relocating to its new home behind the Kaua’i Veterans Center in Lihu’e.
By Aug. 1, all services will be at one location
The Kaua’i County Transportation Agency began moving into its new digs last weekend.
The agency is consolidating and relocating to its new home behind the Kaua’i Veterans Center in Lihu’e. The two-stage move is slated to be completed around Aug. 1.
The baseyard and repair shops are currently both in Puhi, while the dispatch-operations center is in the Historic County Building. After the move, all three components will be quartered in the same location.
In addition to making the overall bus operation more efficient, taxpayers will reap a savings of $60,000 in annual rental services.
“We’ll be thrilled to all be in the same location,” executive director Janine Rapozo said.
She said the agency’s new location will not negatively affect public services.
“The only visible difference will be the procedure for purchasing monthly passes. After the move (is completed), the passes will be sold at the county’s treasury division in the Lihu’e Civic Center,” she noted.
Rapozo suggested purchasing bus passes mid-month, to avoid long lines that occur at the beginning and end of the month for motor vehicle registration and payment of property taxes in the treasury office.
The new bus base is adjacent to the new public safety headquarters being built for the county’s police, prosecuting attorney and civil defense departments.
In addition to buses, the repair shop will provide maintenance space for Fire Department vehicles.
“We’re always looking for ways to share operations between departments wherever possible. It makes us more efficient and saves money in the long run,” Mayor Maryanne Kusaka said.
Eighty percent of the $2 million spent on the new building are federal funds.
In related news, higher bus fares began Sunday. Individual rides increased from $1 to $1.50, senior and youth rates are now 75 cents per ride, and monthly passes are $15 across the board.
The fare increases were approved earlier by the County Council.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
