Lawrence City Commission chooses site in 700 block of Vermont Street for new downtown transit hub

photo by: Bremen Keasey

City parking lot No. 14 on the 700 block of Vermont Street in Downtown Lawrence.

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday selected city parking lot No. 14 in the 700 block of Vermont Street as the location for the city’s new downtown transit station.

The commission voted 4-1 in favor of the site near the current bus transfer area. They chose it over city parking lot No. 9, which is on the west side of the 900 block of Vermont Street. Commissioner Amber Sellers was the lone no vote.

Felice Lavergne, the city’s interim Director of Transit, said city staff recommended lot No. 14 over the other option because of the amenities nearby. That location is closer to the Lawrence Public Library, post office and Senior Resource Center, which was the “main driver” for the staff recommendation.

The project, which has a budget of around $2 million, will feature restrooms, a building for security and canopies and benches to provide more comfort for people waiting for the bus, all things the current transfer location lacks. Construction of the station is expected to start in 2026.