A shuttle will run from Lawrence’s central bus station to downtown Kansas City during the World Cup this summer, regional leaders for the sporting event announced Tuesday.
The line connecting Lawrence and Kansas City is part of the “region direct” plan, which includes motorcoach bus service from areas throughout the metro to the National WWI Museum and Memorial in downtown Kansas City. It’s the site for the FIFA Fan Festival, a centralized event that draws thousands of fans to watch matches and view other programming.
Lawrence is the farthest spot from Kansas City included in the transit plan. Most other stops are in the immediate metro area, but Lawrence is in consideration to be a base camp for an international team during the event, which would likely mean thousands of fans staying in town.
The shuttle will run from June 11 through July 13, beginning on the first match day and ending two days after the final match in Kansas City. It will run in 20 minute increments, but that may change based on the tournament schedule.
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Felice Lavergne, who is leading the city’s transit planning for the World Cup, said the shuttle would help showcase Lawrence during the event.
“The dedicated shuttle service between Lawrence Transit Central Station and Kansas City is designed specifically to manage World Cup travel demand. It will enhance connectivity for Lawrence residents and visitors alike,” Lavergne said.
The announcement says the shuttles are intended to layer on top of existing transportation infrastructure. In Lawrence, for example, visitors will still need to find a way to Central Station at Bob Billings Parkway and Crestline Drive.
Lavergne said the shuttle would not divert resources from Lawrence’s transit operations.
“We’re anticipating that the increased visibility and travel activity will be a boost for Lawrence both in terms of mobility and ridership in our community,” Lavergne said. “We’re looking forward to helping make the World Cup a success for the entire region.”
The shuttle presents an opportunity for Lawrence residents to travel into Kansas City for the event, but also for international visitors staying in the metro to spend time in Lawrence.
Kim Anspach, executive director of eXplore Lawrence, the city’s visitors and tourism bureau, said they had been working on ways to attract regional visitors on days without matches, and the bus would help make the trek easier for those staying in Kansas City.
“With Lawrence now sitting on the direct line, we are even more confident the visitor economy will positively affect us,” Anspach said. “We are working daily with the Lawrence 2026 group to make sure Lawrence shines on the world stage, and is seen by visitors as a place they will have fun, be safe and return to for more visits.”
The transit plan also includes two other types of shuttle lines: one connecting downtown Kansas City to the airport and one connecting spots around Kansas City to Arrowhead Stadium, where matches will be held.
“This plan is all about connecting people with experiences and opportunities across our entire region. It is about impact, and it is one more example of how KC2026 is delivering big for the FIFA World Cup,” said Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026.
She said Kansas City was the first host site to detail transit plans.
The World Cup draw is scheduled for Friday morning, where teams will find out what other teams are in their group. Decisions on locations and match times will be announced soon after.
Once teams know where they’re playing, they will begin looking more closely at which base camp they may want. Those decisions will be made in the early months of 2026.
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Cuyler Dunn (he/him), a contributor to The Lawrence Times since April 2022, is a student at the University of Kansas School of Journalism. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School where he was the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Budget, and was named the 2022 Kansas High School Journalist of the Year. Read his complete bio here. Read more of his work for the Times here.
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