In this month’s issue…
- Transit Announces New Service & Program
- National Bike Month
- Lawn Irrigation Tips from the Utility Department
- Residential recycling service begins October 2014
- Occupancy Limits Changing
Transit Announces New Service & Program
Student summer bus pass available
Students have a new option to get around town this summer. For only $10, a student summer bus pass is good for unlimited rides in June, July and August. The pass is for K-12 students. It will only be sold at the Transit administrative offi ce, 933 New Hampshire.
Night Line bus service begins June 1
Lawrence Transit System is pleased to announce Night Line — the new night and after hours curb-to-curb, shared ride bus service for those who don’t work on a traditional schedule. Starting June 1, bus service will be available from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday. The fare will be $2 each way. Night Line is a demand response service and rides must be scheduled in advance. Call (785) 312-7054 to schedule a ride during business hours, Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00. p.m.
For more information, visit www.lawrencetransit.org or call (785) 864-4644.
National Bike Month
Try biking to work this month!
Biking to work is great for you and the world around you. Choosing to bike to work instead of driving helps fight pollution — automobiles produce toxic substances that pollute the ground, air and water and burn fossil fuels which creates CO2.
Bicycle commuting allows you to include your workout in your daily schedule which helps to keep you in shape.
Don’t fight traffic! Off-road trails and bike lanes allow you to ride past traffic instead of sitting in traffic. Bike commuting takes less time when you account for car parking and traffic. Longer rides can result in less traffic and more enjoyment of your commute.
Bicycling can save you money. Maintenance costs for your bicycle are less than your automobile and you can save money by avoiding a trip to the gas pump. There are no fees to park a bicycle and since you’re doing your daily workout on your commute, a gym membership may not be necessary.
Take time to enjoy your daily commute. When you bike, you arrive at work refreshed and full of energy. In the evening, you can de-stress as you pedal to home. Commuting under your own power gives you a sense of accomplishment and by taking the long way home you can enjoy your surroundings — take a detour through a park or bike along the river as you wind your way home.
For more information, including bike maps and local biking information, visit www.lawrenceks.org/mpo/bicycle_planning.
Lawn Irrigation Tips from the Utility Department
The City of Lawrence is still in a drought from last year’s lack of rain. Now that spring is finally here and it is time to have your lawn irrigation systems checked over and set up for summer, consider these tips to help the city ensure we can provide the water you need when you need it!
How you set your lawn irrigation has a big impact on the city’s water treatment plants, not only on how much water you use for irrigation, but also when you use it. Common practice is to set irrigation systems on a Monday/ Wednesday/Friday early morning schedule. Because most of the irrigation systems are set to this schedule, the city’s water treatment plants experience a very high demand on these days and between 4:00 and 9:00 a.m. Although the Utilities Department is able to accommodate these peak demand times currently, future growth and demand for water may require the construction of additional water storage, such as water tanks and towers to be able to meet high demand. To delay the expense of constructing additional water towers by spreading the demand over the entire week, the city asks customers, who have lawn irrigation systems to set up their irrigation systems, to follow this schedule:
- Even house numbers – Monday/Wednesday/Friday
- Odd house numbers – Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday
Additional lawn irrigation tips that will help use water wisely include:
- Adjust sprinklers to avoid over spray onto hard surfaces, such as sidewalks, patios and streets.
- Repair broken sprinkler heads immediately.
- Set sprinkler times for between the hours of 3:00 and 10:00 a.m. to avoid waste from evaporation during the hot afternoon hours.
- Use landscaping plants that can exist on natural rainfall or minimal supplemental watering.
- Install rain gauges or moisture sensors on automatic systems to monitor rainfall and avoid irrigating when it’s not needed.
- If you notice water pooling or running off of your lawn, you may be applying more water than your lawn needs or can handle at one time. Consider reducing irrigation time, applications, or splitting the watering times into two sessions with an hour in between to let the water absorb into the soil.
As we continue to be under drought conditions, please remember to use water wisely and not waste it. Please contact the Lawrence Utilities Department at (785) 832-7800 for more information on your water or the Douglas County Extension Service at (785) 843-7058 for more information on lawn and landscape water needs.
Residential recycling service begins October 2014
The City of Lawrence will begin providing a recycling collection service for all single-family and multifamily customers in the fall of 2014. The Lawrence City Commission recently approved the plan for this new residential curbside recycling program.
For more information, visit www.lawrenceks.org/wrr
Occupancy Limits Changing
The Lawrence City Commission recently changed the occupancy limits in certain zoning districts. The changes essentially maintain the current three unrelated occupant limit in RS (Single-Dwelling) Zoning Districts and the current four unrelated occupant limit in RM (Multi- Dwelling) Zoning Districts.
The change requires that the Detached Dwelling (single-family) structures in other districts meet the three unrelated occupant limit, but permits four unrelated occupants for other housing types.
Property owners have until August 1, 2015 to comply with the new occupancy regulations.
For more information, see Section 20-601(d) of the Land Development Code at www.lawrenceks.org/planning/ documents/DevCode.pdf or please call (785) 832-3159.