Wednesday, March 1, 1978
Bus...
From page one
have enough buses to handle all the people who wanted to ride.
University Daily Kansan
"I'm really confident that we have plenty of buses to handle persons with passes," he said. "But bad weather puts a strain on. There's always overcrowding in the snow."
MCMURRY said the Senate contract with the bus company paid the company about $250,000 a year. The Senate pays the company on an hourly rate. This year, the bus company gets $12.50 for operation of one bus for one hour.
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McMurry would not say what he thought he would be on a three- or five-year contract.
of professor college of of New years in at issue
Ogle said expenses for daily overhead, bus bars, maintenance, fuel, insurance and taxes.
"We're pleased if we get 8 percent profit," he said.
The Senate never has been able to find another bus company that would provide the same service as the Lawrence Bus Co. at a lower cost, McMurry said.
"THREE YEARS ago we look at other systems," he said. "There was a high cost and a certain amount of inflexibility with the other systems."
When the Senate began the bus operation in December 1971, it paid the bus company $8 for each bus hour. The hourly rate has risen $4.50 in seven years.
Before the Lawrence Bus Co. began working with us, the bus company was independently owned.
"That's virtually unbeatable," McMurry said.
But, Ogle said, in 1969 business started declining and in 1971 the bus company gave the city notice that it was going out of business.
The Senate made an arrangement for trial service that fail and then went into regular business with the bus company in the spring.
MCU MURRAY said regulations that generally applied to mass transportation systems that covered things as smoking and stronger load limits did not include the KLUAS.
He said the KU system was different because it was a subsidiary of the University of Kansas, even though it was a public carrier.
The bus operation is not regulated or inspected for safety or passenger load limits by any federal, Kansas or Lawrence government agency.
Vernon Wenger, spokesman for the
Kansas Corporation Commission, said, "I doubt if anybody does regulate it."
McMurray said, "That doesn't mean that we should be any less responsible. We're cognizant of the laws that exist. We don't go around the laws."
Brent McFall, spokesman for the Lawrence city manager's office, said the city had a franchise agreement with the bus company and the company the right to operate a public utility.
MCFALL SAID the service provided by a company must be available to all persons and must provide a public service to be eligible for a franchise agreement.
The bus company's franchise will expire
 Jan. 28, 2013. The company must pay the
closure fee.
Ogle said the franchise fee was a token tax now. However, many years ago, he said, bus companies paid large amounts of money to get a city's franchise.
According to the franchise, the company must keep the buses "property lighted and heated to provide for the comfort and safety of the travelers and shall keep the same in good state of repair."
"WERE PROUD of our maintenance"
"were proud to our advantage keep the bugs
integrated."
The franchise agreement also states that the buses should let passengers on and off only before or after passing street intersections or at other stops marked by the
The bus company must have at least $25,000 in liability insurance for personal injury in one accident, $50,000 for personal injury to two or more persons in one accident and $5,000 for property damage in one accident.
Ogle said, "I don't think it's anybody's business how much insurance we have. We meet the city's insurance requirement. Our insurance covers your懒ness and our insurance covers them."
McMurry also has recommended that a Senate transit board be established. It would be made up of 10 students and a paid student director.
McMurry has held the voluntary position of director as chairman of the transportation committee since spring semester 1973.
"I haven't really been running the bus operation by myself," he said. "But in five years, we've never had a strong committee."
establishing a transit board did not come about only recently.
McMurry said that his interest in
A STUDY OF transportation needs for the total Lawrence community that was completed last fall by an Omaha firm said that more knowledge and experience was needed in the director position and recommended that the director be paid.
McMurry said that he was not interested in the position of director, although he wrote the Senate legislation that suggested creating the office.
The new KU Speakers Service guide offers speakers on such varied topics as wildlife, psychology, music or nuclear energy.
KU prints new guide on speakers
Edward Julian, director of special programs for the office of University Relations, said yesterday that the guide, the third published by KU since 1928, is the University faculty and staff who had volunteered to speak on subjects of their choice.
The guide lists 82 categories, arranged alphabetically and divided into subtopics, as well as an alphabetical list of speakers with department and office telephone numbers.
Also included are topics dealing with business, the environment, medicine, and healthcare.
TOPICS INCLUDE art history, space
technology, information on maps, human
history
Julian said work on compiling the information for the guide began in September. Through an announcement place at the university, 688 persons volunteered their services, including professors, deans of schools, research administrators, physicians, instructors and lecturers.
Julian said the guide provided a direct way to contact specific speakers.
this way we don't have to act as a caliber, house or agency, as we shouldn't
However, he said University Relations still received about 25 to 30 calls a year from students.
The possibility of a bike path between Lawrence and Tonganoxie might have been lessened by a vote taken Monday night by the Tonganoxie City Council.
However, the bike path's proponents, including the Mount Oread Bicycle Club, are continuing the struggle for the path by seeking the Kansas Legislature's support.
The proposed bike path would be built on a 13.43-mile strip of abandoned Union Pacific Railroad Company right-of-way between Lawrence and Tonganoxie.
The land is available because the Union Pacific Railroad, which had lost money hauling freight northwest from Lawrence and Tonganoxie, no longer wants it.
THE RAILROAD announced the abandonment Nov. 9. Under Kansas law, a government organization, such as a town council or County Commission, has first rights to abandoned railroad rights-of-way. However, if no government organization is granted permission to abandon, the land reverts to owners of land next to the abandoned tracks.
The city council voted to adopt a resolution in support of keeping the railroad in operation. The vote, in effect, supports four Tonganoxie businessmen who are negotiating with the Union Pacific to buy the rails and ties.
J. M. Jack, one of the businessmen, said he wanted to keep the railroad open to ship products and to from a grain elevator he built. He also might use the train for carrying tourists.
Dick Loehr, a Union Pacific spokesman, said the company had decided to hear the city's views before deciding who would get the land.
Staff Writer
New school tennis courts could add to flood runoff
3v CAROL HUNTER
"WE'VE GIVEN the city first choice," he said.
Staff Writer
Although it may increase flooding problems in nearby neighborhoods, a new public tennis center will be built at the Uptown High School, 19th and Louisiana streets.
By MELISSA CORDONIER
Bicycle club members are trying to
oversee all activities and seek
involved help to obtain the right-of-
way.
Lawrence city commissioners last night authorized Buford Watson, city manager, to hire the architectural firm of Peters, Williams and Kubota to design the center.
Although the commissioners approved the center, they expressed concern that the construction might increase flooding in neighborhoods near the high school.
Bike club wants legislative help
Last summer, runoff from heavy rains caused severe flooding of some homes near the high school. The heaviest property damage occurred at 22nd Terrace and Alabama Street, several blocks south and west of the high school.
MAYOR MARNIE Argersinger said last night that she had received one complaint about the tennis center from a resident who feared it would cause more flooding.
courts. The center also will have a 50-car parking lot.
"But should we compound it?" Arger-singer asked.
The center's estimated cost is $180,000.
Financing will be shared by the city, the federal government and Lawrence Unified School District 497.
The city already has received a grant from the Department of the Interior for half of the center's cost. The city and the school district each will pay about $45,000 for the project.
Commissioner Jack Rose said the commission realized there was a problem and was studying the flooding problems in that area.
The tennis center will be used during the summer for city-sponsored lessons and tournaments for Lawrence residents. The tennis center is an equal opportunity for instruction and competitive events.
THE FOUR existing courts at the school will be renovated and four new courts will be built.
Bill Miller, legislative aid for Rep. Mike Glover, D-Lawrence, said Glover was investigating whether the land could be turned into a state park. The state park land could be converted into a bike path without cost to the bike club.
The city's share of the cost will be enhanced with park improvement bonds. The city will have to pay for it.
The final motion to approve the tennis center included a recommendation that the city manager study the possibility of establishing a retention system to minimize flooding.
from various investors' are included in the city's budget.
IN OTHER action, the commissioners in other areas give variances from the city's official ordinances.
two local arms requested the variances. They were Packer Plastics Inc., 2330 Packer Road, and Remember When, 2120B W 25th.
The commissioners voted to defer both requests pending a revision of the city's ordinance. The commissioners will meet to continue their study of the ordinance.
Glover also is investigating whether an already-abandoned right-of-way from Tonganoxie to Leavenworth could be included in the state park.
LOX
BAGELS
BOWLING
Hillel is having a Live & Began Brunch
Sunday, March 5 11:30 a.m
Jewish Community Center
917 Highland Dr.
After brunch, come Dr. with us
-Kansas Union 1:00 -
Brunch members $1.00
nonmembers $2.00
The Union Pacific has removed the tracks from Jut land.
Bowling 50%/game
for more information and rides
call JOE 864 6050
JOHN 864 5904
ROBIN 864 5886
or HUILEL 864 3948
Hillel is the campus organization for Jewish students.
BRIDGE PLAYERS DO IT
indoor rec
The SUA Duplicate Bridge Club
With Finesse
- Cash Prizes for 1st & 2nd Place Every Week
- Tomorrow and Every Thursday 6:30 p.m.
Student Union
Students and Faculty (Welcomed)
Quarterly Club Championship Tomorrow
For more info. call Mike McGhehey 842-7979. ACBL FRANCHISED
"What we're trying to do is get that land for a bike path and backpacking trail from the Missouri River Park in Leavenworth to a creek in the riverfront Park in Lawrence." Glover said.
"We are trying either to enjoin by request or legislation the Union Pacific from dividing the land north of Tonganoxie. If that land is kept in one piece, we can join it with the land from Lawrence to Tonganoxie to make one continuous path."
IN THE EVENT that the land could not be converted into a state park, members of the bike club also are seeking funds so that they could buy the land.
Gordon Fitch, a member of the club, said, "Our goal is to try to get a delay so we can buy the land. We could buy it through a combination of federal grants and local funds. We have written a letter to the Union to explain our real estate and asked for a 90-day delay."
Harriet Hughes, Tonganoxie city clerk,
arreed.
However, the Union Pacific may not be willing to grant the delay.
"We're anxious to speed the disposition of one way or another," Iohr said.
He said there was a possibility the bike path proponents would not have to buy the land even if it were not turned into a state park.
"The Union Pacific was deeded the property by the U.S. government for use for transportation purposes," she said. "We're going to keep it private, but a public use for transportation purposes."
BECAUSE A BIKE path would be for public transportation, she said, the deed should be transferred without cost to the bike path proponents.
Lohr said that transferring the deed without cost was a possibility but that the decision would be made by Union Pacific executives.
Gene Wee, a bike club member, said that setting the land without cost was unlikely.
"The Union Pacific wants money for it," he said. "The only way the trails people are going to have a chance at it is if the state would suport a trail."
"An adjunct landowner feels that once that transportation line is broke he has a failure."
The bike club and the businessmen are being challenged for the right-of-way's ownership by owners of land adjacent to the tracks, and that if the tracks were taken up and a transportation line were broken, the right-of-way would revert to the adjoining land.
Even after the Union Pacific rules on who gets the land, the issue probably will not be addressed.
SUMMER RECREATION
JOB MART
Open to the public
Robinson Gymnasium
Thurs. Mar. 2 12:30-3:00
UNLESS YOU PRINT YOUR OWN . . .
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