Buses World News: PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS * USA - transit spins its wheels awaiting proposed T merger

It’s a time of change for the Kansas University bus system. Despite more riders, decisions rest on sales tax vote

Lawrence,KS,USA -The Lawrence Journal World, by Andy Hyland -October 12, 2008: -- After taking on an influx of new riders this semester, the system will have to deal with additional changes pending the results of a sales tax vote in November... A new rule allowing anyone with a KU identification card to ride the buses for free pushed overall daily ridership up from about 7,000 to between 14,000 and 15,000, said Danny Kaiser, KU assistant director of parking and transit... The buses are much more full at peak times, and some buses on the system are beginning to run at capacity. Some changes are planned, as routes are sorted out... Park and Ride buses, which transport students from a parking lot on West Campus near Clinton Parkway and Iowa Street, are becoming crammed during peak hours... Brian Hardouin, is the chairman of the University Transit Commission, a board that oversees KU on Wheels. That board has begun to look at ways the two systems could co-exist... A merged system would benefit students by providing more coverage and extended hours of service, he said... (Photo by Nick Krug - Kansas University junior Lauren Ruiz, Lenexa, grabs hold of the overhead handles along with other KU students on a packed Park and Ride bus Wednesday. KU is considering a merger with the T system, but it will have to postpone a decision until it knows the results of the November sales tax vote that proposes an increase to fund the city’s transit system)

Labels: public transport systems' discussions