Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Transit

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Robert A. Nugent, Public Transit Administrator
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
Date:	November 30, 2009
RE:	Funding for K-10 Connector Service -$10,000

Please place the following item on the agenda for the December 15, 2009 City Commission meeting:

Background:

Johnson County Transit (JCT) and its partners researched the feasibility of implementing transit service in the K-10 corridor to address the need for commuter transit service between Johnson County and the City of Lawrence, Kansas. A task force was created to work through service options, operating parameters, service operator, type of service and primary market. After much discussion, it was determined that the initial service on the K-10 corridor would be provided between the two KU campuses and Johnson County Community College (JCCC). The primary objectives was to remove cars from the corridor to reduce congestion; provide an alternative mode of transportation; change commuting habits; and engage students to become regular transit riders.

K-10 Connector began operation on January 17, 2007. The K-10 Connector is a commuter express service – only boarding and alighting passengers at five specified stops. The service has reduced congestion and provided new mobility options for people within the corridor. Ridership on the K-10 Connector has grown from 114 rides on the first day of operation to an average of approximately 500 rides per day for FY2008.

Emergency funding request was approved by the board of County Commissioners to expand K-10 service and to purchase used equipment to meet the growing demand. In January 2009 twenty-two additional hours of service were added to the K-10 Connector service. Three used over-the-road coaches were introduced into the fleet in late spring 2009.

The following table details the funding history of the K-10 Connector:

Why funding the K-10 Connector is important:

We have reviewed the recent funding request from Johnson County Transit. The K-10 Connector service has proven to be a success in connecting academic locations in both Lawrence and Johnson County. This is evident in the fact that the majority of the passengers have some association with the University of Kansas and the academic facilities in those two locations. There are, however, operational issues that continue to limit the opportunities of those traveling from Lawrence to places other than the academic facilities in Johnson County.

The City of Lawrence is currently involved in efforts to coordinate our service with the University of Kansas. Included in this effort has been an extensive planning process which has involved active participation by both City and University staff. This planning process has given us the opportunity to better understand the intricacies of each others service and enabled us to formulate courses of action and services that would work toward our common goals.

In the spirit of this coordination, we think that this request is an opportunity to begin the same kind of cooperative effort with Johnson County. As has been witnessed in our recent coordination efforts with the University, understanding each other’s service and developing common goals will provide a good foundation for our future efforts. This is particularly true since our staff has considerable insight into our community’s transportation needs. This insight will prove to be a great benefit in developing services that address, not only the University needs, but the community as a whole.

Johnson County Transit has submitted similar requests for funding assistance to both the Douglas County Commission and the University of Kansas. Their participation has not been determined.

Action Request:

The staff recommends participation in the funding of the K-10 Connector service in the amount of $10,000.