Traffic unit

Creation of a “traffic unit” in the Lawrence Police Department resulted in an 11 percent increase in traffic citations, city officials said Tuesday.

Between April and October, officials said, Lawrence Municipal Court received 23,071 citations.

“Clearly we’re experiencing growth,” said Assistant City Manager Dave Corliss.

The seven-member unit was started last year using a three-year, $2.2 million federal grant.

Spring break

The Lawrence City Commission, following its annual tradition, will not conduct its usual weekly meeting Tuesday.

Kansas University, Haskell Indian Nations University and the Lawrence school district all take the week as spring break. So commissioners are taking the week off as well. City Hall will remain open.

Sidewalk compliance

City officials said this week that Lawrence didn’t have Overland Park’s problems making its sidewalks comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Associated Press reported that officials in the Johnson County city were complaining that it would cost millions of dollars to create sidewalk curb ramps that include special bumpy surfaces to alert visually impaired pedestrians of approaching streets or hazardous drop-offs.

“Lawrence is currently building ramps which comply with the requirements,” said Tammy Bennett, City Hall’s ADA coordinator. “We are using a truncated dome brick inlay that provides the warning surface for a width of 24 inches prior to entry onto a roadway. Examples can be seen along the Sixth Street projects, such as Sixth and Lawrence Avenue or Sixth and Kasold.”

Schedule

• Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission: 6:30 tonight, City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.
• Historic Resources Commission: 7 p.m. Thursday, City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.
• Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board meeting: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Hereford House, 4931 W. Sixth St.