KU News Release

Reciprocal transit program between city and KU a success

LAWRENCE — In the first month of reciprocal agreement between the city of Lawrence and the University of Kansas, ridership is up 20 percent on the city’s T system and has doubled on KU on Wheels buses.

The agreement that went into effect Aug. 18 allows KU students, faculty and staff to ride the T’s fixed-route buses for free by showing a KU Card and lets T riders use KU on Wheels buses for free by showing a valid T pass or transfer slip.

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 for the city of Lawrence. “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, in which all students pay a transportation fee up front and then access the system by simply showing a KU Card, rather than purchasing a bus pass. The new structure has contributed to more than doubling KU on Wheels ridership. Last month 284,341 rides were provided, a 138 percent gain over 119,580 rides provided in September 2007.

“We expected an increase in ridership, but not of this magnitude,” said Danny Kaiser, assistant director of Parking and Transit at KU. “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 part of the new reciprocal program. Services excluded from the agreement are T Lift, JayLift, SafeBus and SafeRide.

The university redesigned the KU Card this year. KU students, faculty and staff must show the updated KU Card to ride T buses for free as of Oct. 1. 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 (785) 312-7054. Visit www.lawrencetransit.org to see a route map and timetable.

For information about KU on Wheels, call (785) 864-4644. 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 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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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.