photo by: City of Lawrence

The City of Lawrence is collecting public input on the proposed design and layout of the city's new bus station, and has released renderings for review.

The City of Lawrence is looking for input from residents on the design of the city’s new multimillion-dollar bus station.

Lawrence Transit released renderings of initial designs, a site plan and a floor plan for the “multimodal transit transfer facility” that the city will soon be constructing at the southeast corner of Bob Billings Parkway and Crestline Drive.

The bus station will be the main bus transfer location in Lawrence and will include local and regional transit bus parking bays and indoor facilities for bus operators and passengers, according to a city news release.

The renderings show multiple angles of the building and the site. The floor plan shows a waiting area, customer service desk, public restroom, long-term bike parking and an area for a vendor, among other areas. The site includes a parking lot, ride-hail area, a loading area for commuter buses and a canopy-covered platform with multiple bus bays for the coordinated bus service operated by the city and the University of Kansas.

photo by: City of Lawrence

A rendering shows the covered bus platform and waiting area at the city bus station.

Public input was taken into account when finalizing the design, and at this stage of the process, the release states that the city is seeking to confirm that the site meets the public’s expectations for aesthetics and services available. The feedback will be incorporated into the final design.

Lawrence Transit is working with Wendel Companies on the design, and the current plans were developed after a series of public input meetings about the facility in April and June of 2021, according to the release. The City Commission approved a concept design in August 2021, which incorporates the reuse of an existing building.

The project was funded by the city’s transit sales tax, and the city now estimates that the bus station will cost about $7.6 million to $8.5 million to construct. Lawrence Public Transit and Parking Manager Adam Weigel said a more definite price would be known this summer once the city receives bids on the construction of the project. He said the bids would go back to the City Commission for ultimate consideration.

The new bus station is expected to open in January 2023. Along with the new bus facility, the city is also working on a process to redesign its bus routes, which is ongoing. The city will also be considering the layout and location of the downtown bus transfer point, which is currently located in the 700 block of Vermont Street.

Residents can view the renderings, site plan and floor plan for the new bus station at lawrencetransit.org/transfer-facility/ and fill out a survey on the proposed design at lawrenceks.org/listens/surveys/. Residents may also attend one of the following public input sessions or email questions to info@lawrencetransit.org.

•Feb. 18, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 700 Vermont Street bus transfer area

•Feb. 23, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kansas Union Jayhawk Walk Level 4

•Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 700 Vermont Street bus transfer area

•Feb. 28, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., 700 Vermont Street bus transfer area

•March 3, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kansas Union Jayhawk Walk Level 4

•March 4, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., 700 Vermont Street bus transfer area