Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Transit

TO:	Mike Wildgen, City Manager
FROM:	Karin Rexroad, Public Transit Administrator
CC:	David Corliss, Assistant City Manager
Date:	January 11, 2005
RE:	Transit Planning Studies

K-10 Fixed Route Transit Study

Initial data from the K-10 Corridor Study, which was completed by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) in partnership with the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission and the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), recommends that a fixed-route bus service, with the potential for route deviations, be implemented along K-10.  The study estimates that the potential for daily transit ridership in this corridor could range from 350 to 500 patrons.  Potential riders would include commuters and students from Douglas and Johnson County.  The initial study estimated four trips each direction.  Both Johnson County and Lawrence Transit staff feel that the project merits further study.  KDOT, Office of Public Transportation, has expressed an interest in assisting with the funding of a feasibility study that would look at “place to place” research, cost out and operational parameters. 

Transit recommends that the City of Lawrence move forward with Johnson County Transit to develop a Scope of Work related to the feasibility of fixed route transit on K-!0.  Once the scope is developed, KDOT will be approached for a definite commitment on funding the feasibility study.  At that time, approval will be requested for issuing the Request for Proposal and Lawrence Transit’s share of the study cost.

Transit On-Board Surveys

With the transit system having been in operation for four years, there is a need to examine the system for improvements, expansion, and adjustments.  The Lawrence Transit System would benefit from an on-board survey of transit system users to identify a ridership profile, major origins and destinations, trip purposes and needs.  Therefore, a task was placed in the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Office’s (MPO) Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), Fiscal Year 2005, to conduct transit on-board surveys.  This would be a shared project with the Transportation Planner and the Public Transit Administrator with transit taking the lead.  Program activities outlined in the UPWP include:

1) Develop a Request for Proposals for a transit on-board survey and distribute to appropriate consultants.

2) Conduct consultant selection process and negotiate a Scope of Work and fee proposal with the selected consultant(s).

3) Monitor and assist in the consultant-conducted on-board survey process.

4) Analyze and tabulate data from the survey(s).  Review consultant data and findings.

5) Review consultant-prepared draft and final reports.  Report findings to Public Transit Advisory Committee and City commission as needed.

The End Products from this task would be a completed transit on-board survey, a report summarizing the survey findings and data tabulations, and reconfigured route structure, as needed.  A cost estimate of $65,000 has been made with an 80/20 split between federal planning funds and local match.  The UPWP was adopted by the MPO on November 17, 2004 and approved by the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration on November 30, 2004.

Transit recommends that the City of Lawrence proceed with the development of the Request for Proposal for a transit on-board survey.

Thank you for your consideration of transit’s requests.