Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will consider five possible locations for the Downtown Transit Station, and they may hear opposition from community members who have concerns about some of the potential sites.
The Downtown Transit Station Steering Committee recently narrowed its focus to five possible locations for the new station:
• Site 5: City parking lot #5 — east side of the 900 block of Vermont Street
• Site 6: City parking lot #9 — west side of the 900 block of Vermont Street
• Site 18: Current bus transfer area and city parking lot #14 — 700 block of Vermont Street
• Site 25: City parking lot #8 — east side of the 800 block of New Hampshire Street
• Site 26: City parking lot #4 — west side of the 800 block of New Hampshire Street
Here’s a look at the sites on a map from the meeting agenda:
City commissioners on Tuesday are expected to choose three to five of those sites to advance for the next step: concept designs.
Some community members are raising concerns about the proposals for the 800 block of New Hampshire Street, which is currently home to the Saturday morning Lawrence Farmers’ Market.
Lawrence resident Eric Kirkendall started an online petition over the weekend against building the station in one of the farmers’ market lots.
Update:
• Lawrence City Commission advances 2 possible downtown transit station sites, Oct. 8, 2024
In addition to potentially displacing the market, the site “sits between two residential apartment buildings. This is hypocritical, since the city recently rejected two other locations because it ‘heard substantial neighborhood feedback that Downtown Station should not border residential properties,'” the petition states, quoting the meeting agenda item.
Farmers’ market staff members have been looking to establish a permanent site for the market, rather than continuing to function as a popup each weekend, but those plans are still in early phases.
In addition, “If the bus hub is located here, bus operations will take place directly below residents’ balconies, and they will be exposed to substantial light, noise, and diesel exhaust pollution,” Kirkendall wrote in an email to commissioners.
The agenda includes other concerns about each of the sites, such as sizes, in some cases, and the use of parking lots that would be eliminated.
As of Monday afternoon, the commission’s meeting agenda did not include any written public comments regarding this agenda item.
Lawrence Transit’s Central Station at Bob Billings Parkway and Crestline Drive opened in January, but there are five bus routes that serve downtown, and the station aims to improve conditions for bus riders and drivers. The main elements the city plans to include in the downtown station are driver restrooms, individual bus bays, next departure signs, sufficient seating, wind protection and weather protection canopies.
In addition, “As part of the 2026 Transit Department operational budget, Downtown Station is planned to be staffed with security personnel from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday,” according to a recent city news release.
After the city commission weighs in, the Kansas Department of Transportation will help the city with concept site plans and an updated cost analysis. Commissioners in November will hold a work session to provide direction on a preferred site, then take a final vote in December. Design and construction will take place in 2025-2026, according to the meeting agenda item.
Read more background on the site selection process in the articles at this link.
The commission will begin its regular meeting at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St. See the complete meeting agenda at this link.
Meetings are open to the public, broadcast on Midco channel 25 and livestreamed on the city’s YouTube page, youtube.com/@lawrenceksvideo.
The commission accepts written public comment until noon the day of the meeting emailed to ccagendas@lawrenceks.org. The commission also hears public comment in person during meetings as well as via Zoom. Register for Tuesday’s Zoom meeting at this link.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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