photo by: Lawrence Transit

A Lawrence Transit bus

Lawrence Transit is proposing a $3 fare for on-demand bus rides after grants that help pay for the special service are set to expire next year.

The current fare-free service, which anyone can use, can be scheduled through the mobile app Lawrence Transit On Demand. The service operates when the fixed-route bus service doesn’t, which is typically after 8 p.m. every day and all day on Sundays.

The service, which is evaluated yearly for renewal, has had some issues with trip availability, according to a news release from Lawrence Transit. On average, 8% of the scheduled trips are booked by people who don’t show up, which totals around 386 trips per month.

Lawrence Transit hopes that charging for the service will help cut down on no-shows and improve trip availability for all riders. If approved, the fares will go into effect in 2026; money will be collected through the Lawrence Transit On Demand app or web portal.

Lawrence Transit is encouraging city residents to fill out a survey so that it can gather more information about how riders are using the on-demand service and how the proposed fare could impact riders.

After collecting survey information, the Connected City Advisory Board will hear a presentation on the matter on Oct. 20 and will vote on the proposal on Nov. 17.

The on-demand service started in 2023 with funds from a Kansas Department of Transportation Access, Innovation, and Collaboration grant. According to the release, Lawrence Transit provided over 89,000 on-demand rides since it was launched. Before that, Lawrence Transit operated an overnight service called Night Line from 2014 to 2022. This service cost $2 per ride and was scheduled by phone.

Lawrence Transit offers traditional fixed-route services — accessed by waiting at a bus stop — and also a paratransit service, known as T Lift, for people who are unable to get to the bus stop or need extra assistance.

The City of Lawrence’s budget for 2026 includes funding to continue fare-free transit for fixed route and paratransit services for next year.

For more information about the timeline and scope of the on-demand fare proposal, visit the projects page at lawrencetransit.org.