Memorandum
City
of
Public
Transit
TO: |
David L. Corliss,
City Manager |
FROM: |
Robert A. Nugent,
Public Transit Administrator |
CC: |
Diane Stoddard,
Assistant City Manager Cynthia Wagner,
Assistant City Manager |
Date: |
March 10, 2014 |
RE: |
Proposal for Van Go
Bus Wrap |
Please place the following item on the
agenda for the March 25, 2014 City Commission meeting:
Approve partnership with Van Go for a
“rolling mural” that will be applied to a 20 foot bus which operates on the
NightLine and approve expenditures of $3,975 in local transit funds.
Background
Lawrence
Transit recently implemented a pilot project for late night service. The
service, known as NightLine, operates from 8:00 pm until 6:00 am Monday to
Saturday. The service has been well received by the public and staff is
currently evaluating variations in service delivery that will reduce the
overall cost and provide service at a higher level.
In
establishing the service, staff created a uniquely colored logo that would
provide identity to the service while maintaining the Lawrence Transit
identity. In recent months staff began discussing partnership opportunities as
a means to bring more recognition to the service. In specific, staff was
interested in creating a relationship between transit and art. The result of
staff’s efforts has been a potential partnership between Lawrence Transit and
Van Go, Inc.
Project Description
Lawrence
Transit and Van Go have worked together to develop a “rolling mural” that will
be applied to a 20-foot bus. The bus, which normally operates on NightLine,
will be adorned in art that tells the unique history of the City of Lawrence.
Rather than actually painting the art on the bus the art will be applied to the
bus by means of a vinyl wrap. This greatly reduces the amount of time that a
vehicle will be out of service while the artwork is applied. Van Go, Inc. will
fund the mural design, in part through a proposed grant through the Freedom’s
Frontier. Conceptually the artwork will depict the following:
This mural will be
utilize all four sides of the Lawrence Transit bus. The layout of the mural is
guided in part by the four elements…Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire.
The front of the bus
will contain images that are closely aligned with the idea of the earth. A white
buffalo, considered sacred to many Native Americans, is the largest image on
the hood along with sunflowers and other vegetation.
The rear of the bus
will have an image of John Brown emerging from storm clouds. The element of
wind is represented here. The idea of runaway slaves following the watering
gourd (or big dipper and north star) is also present.
The passenger side
of the bus uses the element of fire. The images incorporate images depicting Quantrill’s
raid. It will also includes images of the river evoking images of a broken
heart.
The driver’s side of
the bus depicts a swirling river. Wagon trains, the railroad, the underground
railroad, and steamboat travel are all present and evolve into a path that leads
to a hill with familiar KU buildings.
Lawrence
Transit will provide a NightLine vehicle on which the artwork will be
displayed. Once the artwork has been installed the bus will be used, at the
City's discretion, for regular night routes, as well as for special events,
parades, and other community events. The City retains ownership of the bus and
can determine its most appropriate use when it is retired.
Cost
As
part of this partnership Lawrence Transit would pay all costs associated with
the wrapping of the bus which amounts to $3,975.00 (see attached). Lawrence Transit would use local
funds to pay for their portion of this project.
Action Requested
Staff
recommends that City Commission approve this partnership and the expenditure of
$3,975.00 in local transit funds for this project, if appropriate.