County Begins Construction of Bus Stop Improvements at Queen Ka`ahumanu Center Transit Hub

The County of Maui broke ground today for bus stop improvements at the Queen Ka`ahumanu Center (QKC) in Kahului.  The $257,361 construction contract was awarded to Site Engineering and includes the construction of five clusters of bus shelters with seating, lighting, bike racks, and trash/recycle bins.  Related improvements include concrete bollards (barrier posts) and a larger ramp for bus patrons.   An environmental assessment and SMA permit were obtained for the project, which is being built under a 10-year, one dollar-per-year lease agreement with Queen Ka`ahumanu Center.

Maui Bus ADA paratransit service for persons with disabilities provided over 18,000 boardings in 2010, and general bus ridership has grown to over 2.3 million passengers per year.

Photo Courtesy Lois Bisquera, County of Maui.

Image Courtesy Lois Bisquera, County of Maui.

Photo Courtesy Lois Bisquera, County of Maui.

“The Maui Bus is a lifeline for our community,” said Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares. “It’s a big part of daily life that has tripled in use the past four years with over 44,000 passengers per week. This project is the first of many improvements we have planned for our public transit system, and I’m pleased that the County is able to help provide transportation options.”

The County invested $250,000 to plan and design the bus stop improvements at Queen Ka`ahumanu Center and at eight other bus stops county-wide.  The County has also submitted an application for $800,000 in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds for bus stop repair.

“From my experience working in both the private sector and the Council, I’ve always known how important public-private partnerships can be,” he said. “This is a good facility; I’m glad to see it beginning,” said Council Member Joe Pontanilla.

“We look forward to the growth of the Maui transit system as well as providing added convenience for our shoppers,” said Greg Kawakami, QKC General Manager.

General bus schedule information can be found on all County buses, and is available online at www.mauicounty.gov/bus.