Input Sought on $2 M Maui Transit Hub Relocation

By Wendy Osher

A Draft Environmental Assessment has been filed for the proposed relocation of the existing Maui transit hub from the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center to a new 0.85-acre site off of Vevau Street in Kahului.

County of Maui Department of Transportation, Bus Terminal Relocation project area – Vevau Street, Kahului, Maui. PC: Munekiyo Hiraga / Draft EA (AFNSI)

The Maui Department of Transportation currently has a license to operate the existing transit hub at the shopping center site; but the QKC does not plan to offer long-term use once when the license expires in January of 2020.

The department is tasked with relocating the hub to a nearby central location “that is viable for such operations” to “effectively service transit users.”

As such, as previously noted, MOOT has secured a Memorandum of Understanding for the proposed project area from Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

The government-owned property is located across from the QKC complex on land along Vevau Street between the Maui Community School for Adults and The Waterfront Apartments at Kahului.  Majority of the property is unused, with the exception of a dilapidated building in the southwest corner that is aged with a collapsed roof.

According to the draft document, the development of the proposed Transit Hub Relocation project will commence upon receipt of regulatory and construction permits and approvals. Construction is anticipated to take approximately ten months to complete with the estimated cost of construction projected to be $2 million.

There was a Finding of No Significant Impact, according to documents filed with the State Department of Health Office of Environmental Quality Control.

According to the Draft EA, plans include the development of a ticket booth and office, restrooms and storage building, roof structures to cover the passenger waiting and loading areas and a parking lot.  Related onsite improvements reportedly include: grading work, removal of old and installation of new asphalt pavement, installation of bollards, access gates, fencing and landscaping improvements.

An additional component of the proposed action is the removal of 11 existing bus shelters at the current QKC transit hub.

A 30-day public review and comment period is currently underway, with  comments due by June 24, 2019.

Comments should be submitted to both: (1) the proposing/determining agency, Department of Transportation, County of Maui, Marc Takamori, Director, (808) 270-7511, [email protected], 2145 Kaohu Street, Trask Building, Suite 102, Wailuku, HI, 96793; and (2) a copy to the consultant, Munekiyo Hiraga; 305 High Street, Suite 104, Wailuku, HI 96793, Charlene S. Shibuya, Senior Associate, (808) 244-2015, [email protected].