Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Transit

TO:	Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager
FROM:	Robert A. Nugent, Public Transit Administrator
CC:	Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager Brandon McGuire, Assistant to the City Manager
DATE:	February 1, 2016
RE:	Amenities Update

Background

For previous analysis and recommendations pertaining to amenities please see the attached memo from September, 2015.

Recent Efforts in East Lawrence

Staff has responded to the approved recommendations with the following:

• Staff negotiated an easement that was necessary to make improvements to the Haskell and 15^th bus stop. We have developed site plans and are awaiting concrete to be poured at the site. Once completed a bench will be installed.
• Concrete was poured at the Haskell and LaSalle bus stop and a bench was installed.

Additional efforts in East Lawrence include the following:

• Staff evaluated an additional bus stop at Haskell and 19^th. It was determined that the overwhelming majority of ridership at that location uses the K-10 Connector. The K-10 Connector operates as a commuter service and utilizes the nearby parking lot. The ownership and future use of the parking lot is currently unclear. Staff contacted the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) who currently operate the service and informed them of the issue. KCATA is currently evaluating the location as a possible location for improvements in amenities. 
• With the recent realignment of service in the vicinity of the Lawrence Community Shelter the bus stop at Franklin and 25^th was relocated. The relocation included the move of a bench at that location. Staff has also been working with Westar to install a street light at the new location.
• Staff has been working with USD 497 students at the Peaslee campus in the design of a shelter/bench for their property. As part of their class students have prepared several designs, of which they will ultimately fabricate into something that they will install on their property. We will be assisting in providing the concrete once the fabrication is complete and it is ready to be installed.

Additional Amenities Efforts

Based on our evaluation staff has developed numerous locations around city for possible amenity improvements. Staff is currently in the process of communicating with property owners associated with these locations. This communication process is necessary in order to bring attention to our efforts. It also provides time for property owners to prepare for construction by relocating landscaping and sprinkler systems. This also alleviates any confusion over easements and property lines.

Concurrent with these efforts staff has prepared site plans that will be used by a contractor to both price and install concrete pads. The timeline for pouring concrete has not been finalized due to the inconsistency of weather at this time of year. Staff is anticipating 10 to 15 benches to be installed by the spring of 2016.

As part of our upcoming Comprehensive Operational Analysis data will be collected pertaining to passenger boardings at each bus stop. This information, which we currently lack, will provide critical insight into future placement of future amenities. This additional information should be available toward the end of 2016.