The Douglas County Commission received a report Wednesday highlighting various ways that biking, commuting and public transportation could be improved throughout the county.

The study provided recommendations for three areas: the placement of park-and-ride stations, pedestrian accessibility to public transportation and the countywide bike system. Commissioners voted to accept the study as a guideline for future improvements.

Among the findings:

• Nine areas were identified as potential sites for park-and-ride, geared toward Douglas County residents who work in Topeka and Kansas City. Lecompton, Eudora and Baldwin City were each given a facility. Three are situated along Interstate 70 north of Lawrence. Others are placed in South and East Lawrence and at the intersection of U.S. Highway 40 and Kansas Highway 10.

• Improved crosswalks, added sidewalks and other bus stop amenities were recommended along four Lawrence roads: Sixth Street, from Rockledge Road to Massachusetts Street; Naismith Drive, from 19th to 24th streets; 19th, from Iowa to Alabama streets; and 23rd, from Iowa to Louisiana streets.

• Four areas were singled out for needing better bicycling facilities: the areas surrounding public schools in Eudora and Baldwin City; the intersection of Iowa and Sixth streets in Lawrence; and where the Burroughs Creek Trail and the riverfront connect. It also noted the potential for downtown Lawrence and the Kansas University campus to host a bike-sharing program, although a more complete analysis would be required.

Full results of the study can be found at http://www.lawrenceks.org/mpo/study. It was conducted by the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization by analyzing existing structures and gathering information from community members.

In other business Wednesday, the commission approved:

• Hiring the Government Finance Officers Association in a project oversight role for the implementation of new software to streamline county administration. The cost is $70,000.

• The purchase of new cellular modems to improve communication connections to all public safety vehicles in the county for a price of $115,000.