Lawrence Transit will be providing fare-free bus services in the city of Lawrence, Kan., for the third year in a row. This will include all fixed-route, paratransit and on-demand trips.
The fare-free service started as a pilot program in 2023 and is now evaluated on an annual basis for renewal.
“Offering fare-free service removes both cost and convenience barriers that used to prevent people from riding the bus,” said Lawrence Transit Director of Transit Adam Weigel. “If service costs continue to rise faster than revenues, there may need to be a community conversation about bringing fares back or reducing levels of service to keep the fare free program. At this point, forgoing fare revenue is still a strong strategy for increasing the use of transit in Lawrence.”
Lawrence Transit’s fare-free transit program provides a resource for people of all ages to access school, jobs, shopping, medical appointments and other services.
The Chamber in Lawrence Vice President of Economic Development Steve Kelly said that fare-free bus service is a great benefit for both workers and employers in the Lawrence community and he is glad it’s being extended for 2025.
“It’s critically important for our workforce to have dependable, cost-effective transportation to their work sites,” Kelly said. “The cost savings for employees using the transit system is significant and employers also benefit from the reliability of the system and its ability to get folks to and from their locations safely. Access to opportunities is important and the transit system free-fare program provides that access.”
