Freight
Set between two major metropolitan areas, Lawrence and Douglas County fulfills the role as an important link in the multi-modal freight transportation system. Freight enters and exits Lawrence and Douglas County in two major modes - rail and vehicles (semi-trucks and trucks)
Rail
Two major rail lines run in Lawrence and Douglas County: The Burlington, Northern and Santa Fe and the Union Pacific. Although the Union Pacific Line (running through North Lawrence) generally carries more freight traffic than the BNSF line (running south of the Kansas River through Eudora, Lawrence and Lecompton), both carry freight operations.
If you have a rail emergency to report, please call the following:
- BNSF 24 Hour Resource Operations: 1-800-832-5452 or www.bnsf.com
- Union Pacific Railroad Emergencies: 1-888-877-7267 or www.uprr.com
Vehicular Trucks
The majority of freight which services businesses, retailers and citizens in the Lawrence community comes in the form of vehicular traffic - trucks and semi-trucks. Freight operators within the City of Lawrence are supposed to follow Major Truck Routes and Recommended Delivery Routes as spelled out in Ordinance 5865. Click Below to see those routes.
Major surface freight connections in Douglas County include:
- Interstate 70 (Kansas Turnpike Authority)
- U.S. 24 Highway (North 2nd Street - Lawrence)
- U.S. 40 Highway (6th Street - Lawrence)
- U.S. 56 Highway (Baldwin City)
- U.S. 59 Highway (Iowa Street - Lawrence)
- Kansas Highway 10
Regional Freight Connectors
Although none exist in Lawrence and Douglas County, major freight transfer stations do exist within the regional area. Those facilities, set in Kansas City, Kansas are located 35 to 40 miles from Lawrence.
Directions to Intermodal Freight Connections
Santa Fe Terminal, Kansas City
- From I-635 (Exit 3): E 0.5 mile on K-32, S 0.1 mile on 39th, E 0.1 mile on Fairbanks, S 0.1 mile on 38th
- From U.S. 69: W 1.3 miles on K-32 on 39th St (links to connector 1)
Southern Pacific's Kansas City Intermodal Facility
- From I-635 (Exit 3): E 1.7 miles on K-32 (connector for SF Term), N 0.2 mile on 18th, W 0.3 mile on Baynard
- From U.S. 69: Follow 18th St N and Baynard Ave W - as in SF terminal
Announcements
- BAC meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of every month at Fire Station #5 (5:30pm)
