LJWorld.com / City, KU discuss coordinating buses

Archive for Thursday, May 15, 2008

May 15, 2008

City may combine transit services with KU

As the city's bus system fights for survival, the mayor is looking to save 'The T.' A meeting with KU officials could keep the wheels rolling on the city's bus system. Enlarge video

A merged public transit system that would combine the bus operations of the city and Kansas University likely won't happen in the near future, both city and KU leaders said following a meeting Wednesday.

But both sides said they were enthusiastic about the ability of the two bus systems to work better together and to make it easier for riders to switch back and forth between the two.

Danny Kaiser, KU assistant director of parking and transit, said coordination rather than an outright merger was a more likely outcome of talks between the city and the university.

"But it is not just little things that we're looking at," Kaiser said of Wednesday's brainstorming session. "There could be significant improvements if we really looked at how we realigned routes."

Kaiser said KU transit leaders were willing to look at ways that riders on the city's transit system could easily transfer to a KU bus.

But Kaiser said the often talked-about idea of having just one bus system run by a single entity that would try to serve the KU and city populations was a complicated matter that couldn't be undertaken quickly.

The idea of a merger has been garnering more talk at City Hall lately because the city is facing a $1 million shortfall to fund public transit operations in 2009.

Mayor Mike Dever, who asked for Wednesday's meeting with KU, said he was pleased with the discussions.

"It is clear that KU is a willing participant to do what it can to create a well-coordinated and synchronized transit system," Dever said.

Discussion

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15 May 2008
at 7:41 a.m.

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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

The answer is no. Ku will continue door to door bus/taxi service. Dever, how much sense does it make to pay 50 cents on the T and then transfer to theKU bus and pay $1.00. When will the commissioners ride both buses?
15 May 2008
at 8:56 a.m.

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not_holroyd (Anonymous) says…

What a pretty day. I really like living. Thanks to KU for maintaining such a great system which helps so many students. Dever, you are a smart man for having this meeting. Have a good day, y'all. & Smell the roses.
15 May 2008
at 9:23 a.m.

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WilburM (Anonymous) says…

So getting these two systems together is “complicated.” It's been “complicated” for some time; that does not mean that it's not solvable, especially if those who fund the systems get together. that's why Reps. Moore and Boyda probably need to get involved, and/or Sen. Roberts.

Where's the policy advocate for the city, who can work with the University to make this work and provide the vaunted “win-win” situation for everyone — rather than watching a full KU bus be followed by an empty T one?
15 May 2008
at 10:27 a.m.

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dinglesmith (Anonymous) says…

It is simply stupid for the Lawrence metro area to have two separate bus systems. Unwillingness to change anything seems to the major policy making philosophy behind the T. KU's move towards commuter lots, free shuttle busses, and eventually bus access for all students is at least some indication that they are willing to change.

I am an huge advocate of public transportation. I want to ride the T. I would ride it every day if I could. Because of the insane route planning, it would take me over an hour to get my son to school 2 miles from my house. Make it work or shut it down. Driving an empty bus around is neither economically or ecologically sensible.
15 May 2008
at 10:41 a.m.

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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

The flowers need rain but the transportation sucks and KU is prostituting the students now with a higher bus fee. True socialist university. Charge those who don't use it. Dinglesmith, you have to wonder if the commissioners ever rode the T.What will happen , is that the city will find a way to pay KU to run the bus system. The city will not discontinue the T for some time and only then when it is profitable for KU to get the subsidy. KU students are being had and they aren't smart enough to figure it out.
15 May 2008
at 10:50 a.m.

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not_holroyd (Anonymous) says…

Back again. Flowers look great. I sure do love the Oread neighborhood and the KU buses this time of year. I can see sad faces through the windows though of crusty old men who should develope a love life, and trash their computer.

I know what would perk these guys up. It would be a visit to the homeless shelter to let them see how blessed they are. One guy in particular.

Smell the roses.
15 May 2008
at 12:15 p.m.

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moderationman (Anonymous) says…

Poor perchedhawk…utilization of the KU bus system is extremely high and will be higher in the fall when it is FREE for students, faculty and staff. Busses are more efficient and cleaner than the “T” as well. If free is being “had”, bring it on. You also have failed to note that next fall the lowest cost parking will be in the “Park and Ride” lot where you will have to (gasp) use the bus to get to campus. And it's the student senate who made the proposals and decided on the fees.
15 May 2008
at 1:51 p.m.

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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

The student senate comes and goes, just like the city commissioners who leave a legacy of worthless ordinances behind them and useless studies. Visited the Oread neighborhood and checked out the prostituted area with crapped out alleys, littered yards, cars parked in the yards and in mud, oh smell the marijuana and enjoy the ambiance as the city continues to whore the five target neighborhoods.
15 May 2008
at 7:16 p.m.

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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

“It is clear that KU is a willing participant to do what it can to create a well-coordinated and synchronized transit system,” Dever said.

I suspect that “KU is a willing participant to do what it can” means everything except kicking in some bucks for funding, which of course is the actual problem the city is facing. Rearranging the chairs on the deck of the sinking budget will not keep the empTy from eventually dragging Lawrence into insolvency. Will KU be willing to help us with that???

Seriously Mike, you are moron.
15 May 2008
at 7:39 p.m.

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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

Sigmund, MIke Dever is doing what the previous Mayor did. Do you have any idea how many things this commission as well as the past ones have considered? They spend more time considering issues than acting upon them. KU wants money. Period. KU bus system is always broke. KU in fact was the one who had the embezzlement some years ago of bus system funds. KU just sticks the fee to the students and the new ones don[t know any different. Has anyone noticed how lovely the flowers are in Old West Lawrence or how beautiful the new plantings are downtown. Better look fast before they become littered with dog poop of the Old West Lawrence dog walkers, not to mention the cigarette butts of the environmentalists who want the town to go 'green'. Isn't Lawrence a lovely place to pass by while on the Turnpike?
15 May 2008
at 10:08 p.m.

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Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says: “MIke Dever is doing what the previous Mayor did. Do you have any idea how many things this commission as well as the past ones have considered? They spend more time considering issues than acting upon them.”

If your point is that Mike Dever is either more or less a moron than the previous Mayor, I disagree. As far as I can tell they have never seriously considered dumping the empTy completely, getting competing bids, significantly cutting it back, telling MV Transportation they will only subsidize in a fixed amount, or demanding that MV Transportation's payments be contingent upon significant objective measures of service. As far as I can tell MV Transportation is a private corporation with some shareholders being LLC's and LLP's.

Obviously, the City Commission has not demanded that the “real owners” of MV Transportation be disclosed let alone the profit it earns every year Apparently it is just fine with this and past Commissions and Managers that Lawrence taxpayers lose money every year as long as MV Transportation is profitable. Makes one wonder if someone hasn't forgotten to disclose their interest in MV Transportation or one of its LLC or LLP shareholders.

If for some reason the City decides to extend their contract and to throw $2.6 million dollars a year in corporate welfare their way, they should subject their finances to an independent audit and reveal the names of ALL of their partners so we know who is pocketing our money and how much.
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19 May 2008
at 2 p.m.

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Ami (Anonymous) says…

While doing it, how about extending the T routes to cover more parts of the city?
How about the new housing west of Wakarusa?