Downtown Station

Project Overview

Since 2010, Lawrence Transit has operated the majority of bus transfers from temporary locations in Downtown. Site selection studies in 2014 and 2018, in addition to a TIGER grant application in 2016, informed potential viable sites for a permanent facility. In July 2020 the City and University of Kansas agreed to develop Central Station on university property located at Bob Billings & Crestline Drive.

Because the project site is not located near a current transfer area, a Route Redesign Study was conducted in 2021-2022 to take advantage of this new facility. In the course of the Route Redesign Study, it became clear that permanent improvements for Downtown transfers are required to facilitate routes that will still operate in that area. Downtown Station improvements are now separate from the Central Station project.

With Central Station complete and served by 7 routes, 5 routes will continue to serve Downtown Station. More than $1.6 million of state funds have been awarded for Downtown Station, and the bulk of public outreach, site selection, and concept design is anticipated to happen in 2024, with construction likely in 2025.

Status + Timeline + Next Steps

Status

In Progress

Timeline

Project Start: January 2024
Project End: Q4 2025

Milestone 1: Establish Steering Committee (Jan 2024–Feb 2024) – Complete
Milestone 2: Determine Geographic Boundary (Jun 2024) – Complete
Milestone 3: Determine Site Selection Criteria (Aug 2024) – Complete
Milestone 4: Solicit Site Ideas for Evaluation (Jun – Aug 2024) – Complete
Milestone 5: Rank & Recommend 3-5 Sites for Concept Design (Oct 2024) – Complete
Milestone 6: Develop Concept Designs, City Commission to Select 1 Site to Advance to Final Design (Dec 2024) – Complete

Milestone 7: NEPA Process (Dec 2024 – Q3 2025) – In Progress 
Milestone 8: Develop Design + Engineering Documents (Estimated Q2–Q3 2025) – Not Started
Milestone 9: Award Contractor (Estimated Q3 2025) – Not Started
Milestone 10: Begin Construction (Estimated Q3 2025) – Not Started
Milestone 11: Complete Construction (Estimated Q4 2026) – Not Started

Next Steps

KDOT assists in completing a federal worksheet for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Completed + Supporting Documentation

Project partners

• Architecture: TBD
• Construction: TBD

Prior Studies + Background Information

• 2014 Bus Transfer Location Analysis
• 2016 TIGER Grant Application
• 2018 Bus Transfer Location Analysis
• 6/9/21 Public Meeting – Downtown Concepts
• 8/17/21 City Commission Seeks Further Study on Downtown Site Selection | Video
• 1/2/24 City Commission presentation + discussion
• Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
• Downtown transit peer review

Steering Committee

• Steering Committee website
• 2/26 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• 3/18 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• 4/15 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• 5/20 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• 6/17 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• 7/15 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• 8/19 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• 9/23 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording

Downtown Station Project Milestones

Milestone 1 – Establish Steering Committee | Complete

• Resolution 7518
• Site Selection/Public Outreach Plan
• January 2, 2024 City Commission presentation
• Steering Committee website

Milestone 2 – Determine Boundary | Complete

• 3/18 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• Estimated Timeline
• Planned outreach
• News release
• Downtown Station Boundary public engagement results | Map | Full Comment Table
• 6/4 City Commission approval | Minutes, Item E.2
• Final Boundary

Milestone 3 – Determine Site Selection Criteria | Complete

• 4/15 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• 6/17 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• News release
• 6/25 Virtual public meeting, 12:00pm – 2:00pm | Video recording
• 7/15 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• Downtown Station Site Selection Criteria public engagement results | Report
• 8/6 City Commission approval | Video recording | Minutes, Item F.1
• Final Site Selection Criteria

Milestone 4 – Solicit Site Ideas | Complete

• News release
• Downtown Station Site Ideas public engagement results | Map | Full Comment Table

Milestone 5 – Recommend 5 sites for concept design | Complete

• Initial ranked list of candidate sites using Site Selection Criteria
• 8/19 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• Revised ranked list following 8/19 Steering Committee meeting
• 9/23 Steering Committee meeting | Agenda | Video recording
• Final recommended 5 sites from Steering Committee | Report | 10/8 City Commission agenda item
• 10/8 City Commission 2 approved sites for concept design | Minutes, Item E.2

Milestone 6 – Develop Concepts + Select Preferred Site |Complete

• 12/17 City Commission agenda | Agenda |Video
• Downtown Transit Station site selected at 8th & Vermont

Milestone 7 – NEPA Process | In Progress

Milestone 8 – Develop Final Designs | Not Started

Milestone 9 – Award Contractor | Not Started

Milestone 10 – Begin Construction | Not Started

Milestone 11 – Finish Construction | Not Started