Jessica Else The Garden Island KAPAA — Transportation was in the spotlight at the Wailua-Kapaa Neighborhood Association’s meeting Saturday, as Mayor Bernardo Carvalho and members of his administration hit the high points of multiple projects across the island. Carvalho took
Jessica Else
The Garden Island
KAPAA — Transportation was in the spotlight at the Wailua-Kapaa Neighborhood Association’s meeting Saturday, as Mayor Bernardo Carvalho and members of his administration hit the high points of multiple projects across the island.
Carvalho took the standing-room-only audience at the Kapaa Library through the Holo Holo 2020 plan, which is a conglomeration of 38 projects that were branded together in 2010 with the goal of “growing Kauai responsibly.”
After that overview, the presentation took a Wailua-Kapaa focus as the administration talked about eight projects that are either happening, or are on tap for the area.
Holly Zahn, who grew up and still lives on the East Side and works in the tourist industry, said that discussion is what brought her to the meeting — specifically, the topic of shuttles and how they can improve traffic.
Visitors need a way to get around the island, Zahn said, and right now most of them are renting cars, which adds more traffic to Kuhio Highway. Her solution is to involve all the businesses that profit from the tourist industry — such as zipline and adventure companies, hotels and even grocery stores — to provide transportation for visitors.
If each business were to provide a shuttle, or some kind of transportation for its customers, it could add up to a big difference in the Eastside traffic situation, Zahn said.
Michael Dahilig, the county’s planning director, said that’s exactly what’s going on with the upcoming reconstruction of Coco Palms.
“A condition of (constructing the new Coco Palms Resort) is that they have a pilot shuttle program,” Dahilig said.
In addition to working with the shuttle idea, the county officials touched on their plans for repairs on three of the island’s historic one-lane bridges: Kapahi Bridge, Puuopae Bridge and Opaeka’a Bridge.
“We are going to keep the historic character of all three bridges,” said Larry Dill, the county’s chief engineer. “And all of them will remain one-lane bridges, close to the same width (as they were).”
The plan is to make the bridges more structurally sound, yet still keep their historical charm. Those projects will be in the works through 2017.
County officials also reminded the audience that not every traffic problem is within their jurisdiction to fix. Kuhio Highway, for example, is the state’s responsibility.
“Many of the solutions to this issue are on the shoulders of the state,” Dill said, “but the county can do (some projects).”
