Lawrence’s public buses should continue to make stops on the campus of Haskell Indian Nations University, several bus riders and others urged at a hearing Saturday.

“It is exceedingly important for my students to use that route,” said Ann Foster, coordinator of a “bridge program” that connects Haskell students to research programs at Kansas University.

Foster was one of about 25 people who spoke about proposed route changes for the city’s public transportation system, known as the T, during a public hearing at Holcom Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St.

Listening to those comments were public transit administrator Karin Rexroad and members of the Public Transit Advisory Committee.

Many of the comments during the nearly two-hour meeting centered on a proposal to change bus route five, which now includes a drop loop through Haskell. Under consideration is a plan for the bus to stop about two blocks from campus on 23rd Street.

Concerns about the Haskell change included the difficulty handicapped students and visitors would have traversing busy 23rd Street; a lack of sidewalks along Barker Avenue to 23rd; and the effect it would have on visitors going to various Haskell events, such as graduation ceremonies.

“It will greatly affect many students,” said Jared Fire, one of those students. “I believe the Haskell loop is much safer and much better.”

Although most at the meeting said they liked many of the proposed changes, Pat Slick criticized the lack of routes to the East Lawrence Center, 1245 E. 15th St. He called it a major oversight.

“I’m concerned that the racial and ethnic minorities aren’t being served,” Slick said.

None of the route changes included adding a stop at the Douglas County Jail, noted Mike Caron, the jail’s volunteer program coordinator.

He said he had lost some volunteers because they had no transportation to the jail.

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Plus, he noted, Douglas County spends about $10,000 per year for taxi service for inmates released from the jail, which is located on Franklin Road east of Lawrence. The jail is responsible for seeing that those inmates have transportation home, he said.

And, he said, many inmates’ families do not have personal vehicles to get to the jail for visits.

“Bus service would enhance family contact and reintegration, which are well-documented factors in reducing recidivism,” Caron said.

Among other criticisms from those attending the hearing was the possible reduction of bus service after 6 p.m.

“These are only proposals,” said Danny Kaiser, chairman of the advisory committee. “Nobody has made any decisions.”

Concern also was expressed about city commissioners gradually reducing bus service because of budget constraints.

“I think we all, as riders, need to pull together,” Jason Fizell said. “We can push for a greater increase in services.”

A second public hearing about bus route changes will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Building 1 at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St.