Lawrence Transit’s fare-free program will continue through 2024, and it will include Sunday service starting Jan. 7, the city announced Tuesday.
All fixed-route buses, T Lift, and Lawrence Transit On Demand, the new evening and overnight rideshare service, will all be free to ride for another year. On demand service will be available on Sundays as well next year, according to the release.
The city started a pilot program to offer fare-free rides beginning in January 2023 and continuing through the end of this year. Ridership in 2023 is 49% higher than 2022, and 13% higher than before the pandemic, according to the city’s news release.
“People are riding more often and to new places, transit service is on time more often, and riders are spending money in the community that they used to spend on the bus, while also saving more money,” according to the release.
The program is financially supported by increased federal transit funding, according to the release. Data will be reevaluated in fall 2024 to determine whether it is feasible to extend the program for another year.
“We expected to see a bump in ridership with fare free, but it has really exceeded expectations,” Adam Weigel, transit and parking manager, said in the release. “Riders are telling us how much this means to them, and we’re excited that community members can explore 2024 route changes without paying a fare.”
However, “Through the first nine months of 2023, use and costs have not risen on T Lift or On Demand service, which is critical to the ability to extend the fare free program through December 2024,” according to the release.
“Capacity of T Lift must rise to meet the demand, which could present budgetary challenges in the future if the total number of rides and monthly rides per user increases over 2019 numbers,” according to Lawrence Transit’s third quarter report.
Find more information at lawrencetransit.org or call 785-864-4644 with questions.
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