photo by: City of Lawrence

City Transit staff provide information about newly proposed options for bus routes at the Lawrence Public Library in this contributed image.

The City of Lawrence is seeking feedback from residents on two options for a long-awaited redesign of the city’s bus routes, both of which include Uber-like “microtransit” options, though with different ideas for how that service would function.

Both scenarios call for a traditional network of bus routes that is complemented by microtransit service, according to information in a city survey about the routes. The survey says microtransit is an app-based service that operates like Uber and Lyft but utilizes transit-specific vehicles and offers affordable and predictable fares. To be most productive, microtransit trips must be kept relatively short, and the city asks residents to provide feedback on two ways for structuring the service to accomplish that.

What the city calls scenario one would achieve short trips through the implementation of a zone structure, while scenario two would do so using distance-based pricing. With a zone structure, passengers wishing to travel beyond the boundaries of one zone would have to transfer to fixed-route bus service. With distance-based pricing, microtransit service could be offered citywide, but fares would increase by the mile after an initial low-fare trip distance.

“The scenarios have some similarities and many differences,” the survey states. “Neither is intended to satisfy everyone. Rather, the study team is interested in knowing which elements in each scenario are most popular, with the aim of incorporating those into a final recommended scenario.”

Residents can view the options and take a survey to provide feedback now to Nov. 19 at lawrenceks.org/listens/surveys. A city news release states that the images of the routes could not be optimized for mobile devices. The city will also present the options at two upcoming in-person events and virtual meetings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 and from noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 5, according to the release. Links to register for the meetings are available on the project website, lawrencetransit.org/route-redesign. As part of the meetings, transit planners from Foursquare ITP will walk through the two draft route redesign scenarios and discuss community thoughts, concerns and questions.

In addition to the survey, there will be opportunities for public meetings and conversations with transit staff and consultants at locations such as the Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence Farmers’ Market and Sports Pavilion Lawrence, as well as virtual open houses, according to the release. Transit staff will continue to work with community partners and neighborhood representatives to schedule additional community engagement opportunities. Announcements about upcoming opportunities for public engagement will be posted on the project website.

The release states the coordinated city and university bus systems had been working for months with consultants and a steering committee representing many facets of the Lawrence community to develop the options. The public input received about the two proposed scenarios will inform a final recommended scenario that will be shared with the public before the end of the year. Route changes will be implemented in August 2022.

The redesign of transit routes in Lawrence is happening concurrently with the planning and construction of a new bus transfer facility on the southeast corner of Bob Billings and Crestline, as well as an improved transfer location serving downtown Lawrence.