News Releases
News from the City of Lawrence for Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
(Sent: 2008-10-10 06:03:30)NEWS RELEASES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 News from the City of Lawrence
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Contact: Casey Toomay, Interim Public Transit Administrator, 832-3409
Danny Kaiser, Assistant Director, KU Parking & Transit, 864-7275
(Lawrence, Ks) – Ridership on the Lawrence Transit System is up 20 percent and more than double on KU on Wheels buses in the first month of a new reciprocal agreement between the city of Lawrence and the University of Kansas.
The agreement went into effect Aug. 18 allowing KU students, faculty and staff to ride the T fixed-route buses for free by showing their KU ID card. And it allows T riders to use KU on Wheels buses for free by showing a valid T bus pass or transfer slip.
After more than a month of operating under the new agreement, T fixed-route ridership improved for the third straight month over the same period a year ago. Last month 35,276 rides were provided, a 19.8 percent gain over 29,450 rides provided in September 2007.
“This arrangement is another great example of what can happen when our two systems work together,” said Casey Toomay, interim public transit administrator. “More KU students are able to have service on Saturdays and weeknights and T riders are able to access more locations throughout the community."
KU on Wheels ridership this year has been so successful that the system had to adjust some routes to accommodate the increased demand. The university this year moved to a “fare free” transit system, where all students pay a transportation fee up front and then access the system simply by showing a KU Card, rather than purchasing a bus pass. The new structure has contributed to more than doubling KU on Wheels ridership. 284,341 rides were provided last month, a 138% gain over 119,580 rides provided in September 2007.
”We expected an increase in ridership, but not of this magnitude,” said Danny Kaiser, KU Assistant Director of Parking & Transit. “We are very pleased with these results. Effective transit is very attractive to riders. It has been great to work with the city on this project.”
All regular fixed routes of the T and KU on Wheels are open to the new reciprocal program. Services excluded from the agreement are T Lift, JayLift, SafeBus, and SafeRide transportation services.
The university introduced a redesigned KU Card this year, and starting Oct. 1, KU students, faculty and staff must show the updated KU Card to ride T buses free. The KU Card Center, on the fourth level of the Kansas Union, will issue new cards at no charge to KU faculty, staff and students if they turn in their old cards. Without an old card to turn in, the cost of replacement is $15.
The Lawrence Transit System travels throughout the community transporting people to work, school, medical appointments, and shopping. For assistance with trip planning, call 312-7054 or visit www.lawrencetransit.org to see a route map and timetable.
For information about KU on Wheels, call 864-4644 or visit www.kuonwheels.ku.edu for a route map and timetable of university routes.
In the Nov. 4 election, Lawrence residents will vote on two sales tax proposals to fund the operation of the transit system beyond 2008. On the ballot are a 0.2 percent special sales tax for public transit operations and capital investment and a second sales tax of 0.05 percent, a special sales tax for public transit system enhancements.
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PREPARED BY: Chris Bristow, 785-832-3458
(Lawrence, Ks) – Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department is offering several Halloween-themed events for both children and the entire family to enjoy in a safe environment.
The 37th annual Halloween Paint-In will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 25, in Downtown Lawrence. The event is sponsored by Parks and Recreation, Downtown Lawrence, Inc. and the Lawrence Breakfast Optimists Club, and is open to both students age third grade and up and to adults. Participants must submit a sketch of what they plan to paint on local Lawrence storefront windows to Holcom Park Recreation Center, 2700 W. 27th St., by Thursday, Oct. 23. A required organizational meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, at Holcom. All entrants will receive a Halloween Paint-In t-shirt. There is no cost to participate. For more information, contact Duane Peterson, special events supervisor, (785) 832-7940.
The Indoor Aquatic Center’s Spook ‘n Splash is a fun-filled, kids-only party for ages 3-12. Children will enjoy a night of frightening fun, including candy, pizza, games, crafts and swimming, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Indoor Aquatic Center, 4706 Overland Dr. The evening kicks off with a costume contest, with prizes awarded for scariest, funniest, cutest and most original costume. The fee for this event is $14, and the registration deadline is Thursday, Oct. 23. For more information, contact Jai Hoyer, aquatics programmer, (785) 832-7946.
Parks and Recreation will hold Trunk or Treat from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St. Families are asked to decorate their car’s trunk or hatch and bring candy so children can trick or treat in a supervised environment. Prizes will be awarded for best decorated trunk and best costume. Those wanting to decorate their cars must pre-register to reserve a spot. Other sponsors include Free State Auto Works, Great Wolf Lodge and KLZR 105.9 FM. There is no cost to participate. For more information, or to reserve a parking spot, contact Ross Schraeder, recreation center programmer, (785) 832-7950.
Prairie Park Nature Center, 2730 Harper St., will hold Legends and Fairytales 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, which will provide Halloween tricks and treats in a hiking format around Mary’s Lake. It’s a family fun event with not too spooky characters, refreshments and live animals. Cost is $3 per person, 3 years old and older; $10 for families of four or more. This event is a fundraiser of the Prairie Park Partners for the nature playground. For more information, please contact the nature center at (785) 832-7980.
Parks and Recreation also recommends trick or treating from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. Homeowners wishing to participate are encouraged to turn on porch lights for Lawrence’s boys and ghouls.
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Contact: Lisa Patterson, communications manager, (785) 832-3406
(Lawrence, Ks) - Infrastructure improvement projects for the week of Oct. 13 are listed below.
Project: Ohio Street reconstruction
Traffic impacts:
Ohio Street, 600 block, closed to through traffic Seventh and Ohio streets intersection, closed to through traffic
Project: North 8th Street waterline
Traffic impacts:
North 8th Street waterline, Maple to Locust, local traffic
Project: Curb, Gutter and Overlay Program Phase 3
Traffic impacts:
Eldridge Lane, Overland Drive to the north, lane reductions
Eldridge Lane, 6th Street to Trail Road, lane reductions
Trail Road, Monterey Way to Folks Road, lane reductions
Arizona, 6th Street to 8th Street, lane reductions
Eighth Street, Kasold to Lawrence Avenue, lane reductions
University Drive, Crestline Drive east of Stratford Road, lane reductions
Rockledge, 6th Street to McDonald Drive, lane reductions
Project: waterline replacement
Traffic impacts:
North Seventh, Grant to Lincoln, local traffic
Project: sidewalk ramps
Massachusetts, at 13th Street, lane restrictions during the working day
Bus Reroutes
Route 8 reroute
As construction continues at 12th and Indiana Streets, a reroute is necessary to avoid the area. When heading southbound, the bus travels behind the Kansas Union, but when heading northbound, it travels in front of the Kansas Union. Route 8 Southbound: Heading west on 9th street, the bus will turn south on Mississippi to Jayhawk Boulevard, turn west on Jayhawk Boulevard and back on route. Route 8 Northbound: Heading east on Jayhawk Boulevard to Oread, the bus will turn east on 12th Street to Louisiana, turn north on Louisiana to 11th Street, turn west on 11th to Indiana, turn north on Indiana and back on route.
For further assistance with trip planning, please call 312-7054.
Right of way uses
The following are approved right of way use permits that may have traffic impacts.
Issued for: Oread Hotel Construction
Possible traffic impacts:
12th Street, west of Louisiana to Indiana, closed to westbound traffic Indiana, 12th Street to mid 1200 block, closed to traffic Oread Avenue, 13th Street to 12th street, closed to through traffic, local traffic permitted closures may last until spring 2009
