Bus stop number 327 recently received an upgrade, with a new bench built by a resident of the neighborhood where it is located. The bench is on 9th Street, next to The Merc. Members of the Sunset Hills Neighborhood Association and transit staff gathered recently to celebrate the project.

This community bench project builds on a partnership between Lawrence Transit and the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program (SELF) at the University of Kansas. The program matches students in the KU School of Engineering with community service projects where they can put their skills to the test.

Gary Webber is the neighborhood resident who used the set of plans from the KU SELF Fellows to build the first prototype bus bench. He donated it to Lawrence Transit on behalf of Sunset Hills Neighborhood Association. That bench was recently installed, along with a metal canopy, bike parking, and a trash container.

“This project highlights how thoughtful student work can translate into real-world community benefit,” said Felice Lavergne, Director of Transit. “Using plans developed by KU SELF Fellows, Mr. Webber built and donated a durable, well-designed bench that now serves transit riders in his neighborhood. It’s a great example of how technical planning and community initiative can come together to improve public spaces.”

Lawrence Transit has more than 400 bus stops across town. Benches donated by the community are placed at sites that are already equipped with ADA accessible concrete where they can be installed. As city departments work to coordinate planning for future projects, new bus stops are being integrated into the street projects across the city. Examples of recent integrated bus stops are on 6th Street and 23rd Street.

More news >>