Over 100 attend TIGER Grant blessing

Over 100 attend TIGER Grant blessing

Over 100 people attended a blessing at Kalena Park on Friday to celebrate a $15.1 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“This grant, awarded to the County of Kaua‘i in 2015 by our federal partners, will be for the Līhu‘e Town Core Mobility and Revitalization Project, which will encourage a more walkable, healthy and active community, and create additional economic opportunity for Kaua‘i,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. “This highly competitive grant would not be possible without our community, county, state, and federal partners.”

A design-build contract has been awarded to Kiewit Infrastructure West, and construction is anticipated to begin in January 2019 with substantial completion in December 2019.

In addition to the $15.1 million grant, the County of Kaua‘i will fund an additional $2 million to the project, which will include the following:

· Eiwa Street transit hub to improve bus service for islandwide and local routes;

· Rice Street: safety improvements for all users, safer pedestrian crossings, dedicated on-street parking, and a business-friendly environment;

· Hoala/Kalena sidewalk to connect Līhu‘e Court Townhomes and Kaniko‘o Senior Housing to education, work, shopping, and services;

· Ho‘olako Street bicycle/pedestrian improvements to connect Vidinha Stadium to neighborhoods and town core;

· Shared-use path from the Līhu‘e Civic Center to Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall, to connect parking resources, Wilcox School, and public facilities and services;

· Eiwa transit center to provide services to bus patrons; and

· Puaole/Malae bicycle boulevard to complete a safe route parallel to Rice Street.