Meeting Provides New Details About Prospect MAX

The KCATA this month gave residents another glimpse into detailed plans for a new generation bus rapid transit line serving Prospect Avenue.

About 75 people turned out at Alphapointe – located at the most southern point of the route – to get an idea about how Prospect MAX will serve their community.

They learned about service frequency, station designs and locations and what a MAX vehicle might look like and how it differs from other buses.

Planners also showcased some new approaches to transportation that could be deployed along Prospect, including mobility hubs featuring connections to not only buses but paratransit service, short-term car and bike rentals, as well as electric vehicle charging stations.

The project also could mean the introduction of new technology to transit service along Prospect, including smart kiosks like the ones lining the streetcar route, real-time bus arrival information, ticket-vending machines and audible crosswalk alerts.

Prospect MAX is intended to be a transformative project that will spur new development and bring vitality to a major north-south artery on Kansas City’s east side, said Robbie Makinen, chief executive officer of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.

“This is not just about sticking four tires on a road,” Makinen said. “This is about community development.”

The Prospect MAX route is patterned after similar service on Main Street and Troost Avenue. It would would extend for 10 miles from downtown to 75th and Prospect with connections to the rest of the Kansas City region.

Speedier bus service will be available because sleek new bus stations will now be placed every four to six blocks apart compared to more traditional bus service where stops are located every block.

Citizens take a look at a possible design for MAX shelters.

The KCATA will continue operating the 71-Prospect route although some parts of the existing route may be adjusted.

The overall Prospect MAX project costs about $54 million with about $38 million coming from the federal government. Of the federal funding, $8 million has been secured.  The remaining $30 million was put into the President’s budget, which Congress has yet to act on. 

Councilman Reed gives an update.

KCATA staff talk about what makes a bus rapid transit bus different.

Riders, residents and those who work in the area provide comments about the details of the MAX line.