City of Lawrence wants to hear from transit riders and pedestrians about getting around town

Changes are coming to the way people get around town in Lawrence. City staff and steering committee members want to hear from the public about the future for pedestrians and transit riders.

After months of work and planning, the city has rolled out two proposed scenarios to redesign bus routes. The work to gather feedback and finalize route changes by the end of this year — to be implemented in August 2022 — complements plans for a bus transfer facility coming to Bob Billings and Crestline Drive.

Both scenarios include “microtransit” service alongside bus routes. Microtransit functions like ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft, but it uses transit-specific vehicles and offers affordable and predictable fares. “Microtransit is an effective tool for serving automobile-oriented environments, but to be most productive, microtransit trips must be kept relatively short.”

According to the city, the scenarios have some similarities and many differences. “Neither is intended to satisfy everyone. Rather, the study team is interested in knowing which elements in each scenario are most popular, with the aim of incorporating those into a final recommended scenario.”

Catch up on earlier meetings and see maps of proposed route changes at this link.

Staff will hold two virtual public meetings to discuss the route redesign draft scenarios. Those are set for 5:30-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1, and noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5. (Click the date to register for either Zoom meeting.)

The online survey, available at this link, explains potential changes route by route and seeks feedback.

There are also in-person meetings and tablings planned:

Wednesday, Oct. 27
• 10:30-11:30 a.m. — Information table
Just Food Cruising Cupboard
at Lawrence Public Library, outdoors, 707 Vermont St.
 
Thursday, Oct. 28
• 2:30-6:00 p.m. — Information table with Lawrence Public Library
at Checkers Grocery Store, 2300 Louisiana St.

• 4-6:30 p.m. — Information table
at Cottin’s Farmers Market, 1832 Massachusetts St.

• 6-8:30 p.m. — Open house route redesign public meeting
at Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St.

Sunday, Oct. 31
• 4-6 p.m. — Information table
at Lawrence Public Library Lobby, 707 Vermont St.

Route Redesign Steering Committee members shared some thoughts and concerns about the survey and public engagement process during Tuesday evening’s meeting.

For more information, visit lawrencetransit.org or call 785-864-4644. Follow @lawrencetransit on Facebook and @TransitKU on Twitter.

Barriers to walking, rolling and strolling

The city and a recently formed Pedestrian Plan Steering Committee (see members here) also want feedback to help shape their Pedestrian Plan. They’re collecting input via an online survey and in-person tabling events.

“The feedback received from the community will help the citizen Pedestrian Plan Steering Committee develop a plan that reflects the community vision, issues and preferences.” Examples of work done over the past few years include improvements and installation of sidewalks, additions to the Lawrence Loop, reducing neighborhood traffic speeds and installing street crossing improvements.

The survey is available at this link through Nov. 14. Upcoming times and dates to talk to city staff in person include:

• 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27: RPG Trivia (prior to trivia), 724 Massachusetts St.
• 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28: Cottin’s Farmers Market, 1832 Massachusetts St.
• 2:30-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28: Library at Checkers Foods, 2300 Louisiana St.
• 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28: Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St.
• 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31: Library trick-or-treating, 707 Vermont St.
• 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2: Lawrence Public Library Lobby, 707 Vermont St.
• 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4: DARE Center, 944 Kentucky St.
• 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4: Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane
• 8:30 a.m. – noon Tuesday, Nov. 9: Ballard Community Services – Food Distribution Center, 2100 Harper St.
• 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10: Virtual tabling, come and go, register here
• 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11: Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont St.
• 8-10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12: Sports Pavilion Lawrence, 100 Rock Chalk Lane
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13: Art Emergency Outdoor Art Market, 721 E. Ninth St.

New dates will be added at this link as they’re confirmed.

Check out the Oct. 14 meeting of the steering committee below. The next meeting agenda will be posted at this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKAOEq1JGXY

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