Hawaiʻi Appleseed selected for national Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) program
New project will improve pedestrian safety and transit lighting for women and families in Waipahu and ʻEwa.
HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice has been selected as one of four organizations nationwide to participate in Phase 2 of the Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) program, administered by the University of Minnesota and funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
The initiative supports local demonstration projects aimed at reducing transportation insecurity among historically underserved populations.
Building on two years of community engagement and research, Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s selected project—“Improving Women’s Mobility in Waipahu and ʻEwa through Pedestrian Amenities and Transit Lighting”—will deliver tangible safety and accessibility improvements in some of Oʻahu’s fastest-growing communities.
The project will focus on enhancing the safety, visibility and comfort of key walking routes and transit stops used by women and families traveling to schools, jobs, and essential services.
“Transportation insecurity is a major economic and social issue that affects access to opportunity,” said Abbey Seitz, Director of Transportation at Hawaiʻi Appleseed. “Women in Waipahu and ʻEwa shared that unsafe crossings and poor lighting make everyday trips stressful and dangerous. This project is about responding directly to what our community has identified as most needed—safe, well-lit, and welcoming spaces for walking and transit.”
The demonstration will include:
Pedestrian safety improvements—such as curb extensions, raised crosswalks and colorful street art—at up to 6 intersections near public schools in Waipahu and ʻEwa.
Solar-powered lighting installations at up to 20 high-ridership bus stops to improve nighttime safety and visibility.
Community-led art and engagement activities that bring residents, students and local artists together to co-create safer and more vibrant public spaces.
In partnership with the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS), the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute (HIPHI), and community health workers from the project area, the effort will combine infrastructure improvements with local research to evaluate how transportation access and safety affect quality of life for low-income women.
The project builds on Phase 1 research that included travel surveys, listening sessions, and design workshops with more than 200 residents. Key findings revealed that lighting, safe crossings and personal security were top concerns among women travelers. The forthcoming improvements will be installed in 2026 and are expected to inform future transportation planning efforts across the state.
Hawaiʻi Appleseed recently released a request for proposals, seeking a traffic engineer to lead the design and installation of the project’s pedestrian safety and solar lighting improvements. If interested in submitting a proposal, visit: hiappleseed.org/traffic-design-engineering-installation-services-rfp.
