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Lawrence
Transit System

Voters approve sales taxes for transit

Sales tax graphic

In the Nov. 4 election, voters approved three sales taxes totaling 0.55 percent for public transportation, streets, fire trucks, and infrastructure. Read more.

The T becomes first bus system
in Kansas to join Google Transit

Google Transit

Current and future riders of the Lawrence Transit System now have one more tool to help them plan routes and get information about the bus system. The T is the first public transit system in Kansas to join Google Transit, a service that allows users to plan trips on public transportation systems throughout the world.

Here's how it works. Users enter their origin and destination into the trip planner and receive three options for making a trip using the T system. The options presented may use different routes to complete the same trip or alternate times of day. Users may adjust the timeframe of the trip to better suit their schedules. In addition to step-by-step instructions, the results show the difference in cost between taking public transit and driving for the selected trip.

Riders should be aware that Google trip planning will not take into account bus reroutes, where the route has been temporarily changed for street repairs or other road closures. Riders can call the customer service line to confirm the planned trip before setting out on the T, at (785) 312-7054.

Read more about the launch or try the trip planner.

Ridership increases as pass program between City and KU proves successful

T bus on campus


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. Read more.

Transit commute benefit programs help employers and employees save money

Dollar sign

There are several ways to save on commuting costs—purchasing a monthly bus pass to ride the T to work, joining Carpool Connection for commuters heading out of town, and even through tax savings. Federal law lets workers receive up to $115 a month in employer-paid tax-free transit costs, or take up to $115 a month in tax-sheltered payroll deductions for transit costs. Find out more by visiting the American Public Transportation Association or viewing the IRS Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits (PDF). For employers interested in establishing a transit commute benefit program, contact the Lawrence Transit System at (785) 832-3465.

Calculate the cost of driving your car

Calculator

How much do you pay to drive? Punch your numbers into our Cost of Driving Calculator to estimate your monthly and annual cost of driving to and from work. Check out the T route map or Carpool Connection link to see if public transportation or carpooling is an option.


Announcements

Route 8 will reroute after KU home football games

Following every KU home football game, as heavy traffic is being evacuated from campus, Route 8 is unable to stay on its regular route. The bus will return to regular route as soon as possible.

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.

Lawrence Transit System earns federal award for 2007 ridership increase

The Lawrence Transit System has received a top honor for increased ridership from the Federal Transit Administration. The Award of Excellence was presented to staff members in September at the annual meeting of the Kansas Public Transit Association in Wichita. It was granted for the highest percentage increase in ridership in the Kansas Urbanized Area Transit Program for 2007. Annual ridership in 2007 increased by 45%.

The increase is attributed to the addition of a Park & Ride facility at the University of Kansas. Through a partnership, the City of Lawrence assisted the university in acquiring federal funding for five transit vehicles to be operated for the Park & Ride system; no city funds were used in the acquisition.

City and KU increase transit coordination

An agreement between the city and the university now allows easier access to both bus systems. KU students, faculty and staff can ride the T fixed-route service free by showing a valid KU Card. Conversely, riders who show a valid T bus pass or transfer slip can ride the KU on Wheels buses for free. Services excluded from the agreement are T Lift, JayLift, SafeBus, and SafeRide. Starting Oct. 1, KU students, faculty and staff need to show the new KU Card to ride T buses free.

Day pass available for the T

Making multiple trips in a single day? Give the day pass a try. The pass is the only one that is purchased directly from the bus driver. Once it's punched, you can use the pass for unlimited rides on that day. Full fare day passes are $2.75, and reduced fare passes are $1.35 with valid identification.

Proposed bus stop changes

View proposed changes to the T fixed route bus stops.