City commissioners are interested in exploring sites outside of downtown for a new public transit hub.

Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agreed to spend up to $40,000 to hire a consultant to study issues related to building a new transit hub for the city’s T bus system.

Commissioners followed the recommendation of staff members who urged commissioners to no longer consider using the Santa Fe Depot in east Lawrence as a transit hub, which would provide a lobby, restrooms and other amenities for people waiting to catch a bus.

Commissioners, though, told staff members to continue to look for grant opportunities that may allow the city to purchase and rehabilitate the 1950s-era depot. An area historic preservation group, Depot Redux, has urged commissioners to buy the building from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway in order to ensure the building will be preserved.