Local Organizations Support ZeroFare KC

The Kansas City Community is rallying to support ZeroFare KC. Leaders at non-profit organizations, schools, and elsewhere recognize the potential of public transportation without a financial barrier. 

In December, the Kansas City, Mo., City Council unanimously supported an initiative to provide zero fare transit service to Kansas City, Mo. Efforts continue to identify a complete funding package, and supporters are sharing their reasons for supporting ZeroFare KC.

"Before COVID-19, Zero Fare transit was on the horizon," said KCATA President and CEO Robbie Makinen. "As our community rises from its path of economic turmoil and personal loss, people will need ZeroFare KC more than ever. Public transit may be the only access to jobs, education, lifeline services and more as our friends and families rebuild. Just as we must flatten the curve of COVID-19, we must narrow the gap between the haves and have-nots. ZeroFare K helps us do that. Go to zerofarekc.com." 

Read letters of support:

Kansas City Public Schools, Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell [PDF]
Community Services League [PDF]
Connections for Success [PDF]
Goodwill Industries [PDF]
Literacy KC [PDF]
Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries [PDF]
Sheffield Place [PDF]
Thrive Health Connection [PDF]
U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services [PDF]
Welcome House [PDF]

I see the tangible benefit that the free bus passes have had for our students and I am convinced that that opportunity should be extended to our entire community....Eliminating bus fares will increase job opportunities, boost our local economy and make our bus system safer. It would truly be a win-win for our entire city.

Dr. Mark Bedell, Superintendent, Kansas City Public Schools 

As a provider who works with multi-barrier families, we are particularly supportive of this effort because we know that transportation is critical. Sheffield Place’s mission is “to empower homeless mothers and their children to heal from their trauma and to become self-sufficient.” The goals of our families are to have stable housing, to have increased income, and to be healthy (clean, sober). To accomplish these, not only is transportation necessary, it is the single thing that connects our families to services, jobs and housing.

Zero Fare transportation enables our families to work toward, to achieve and to maintain their goals. Without accessible, Zero Fare transportation reaching self-sufficiency is not possible for low/no income families.

Kelly Welch, CEO & President, Sheffield Place

 

Thank you for your recent efforts in moving our city towards Zero Fare transportation. Transportation is critical to create equity for opportunities for those in our city who struggle the most. Many of these individuals are daily making decisions on what is most important to spend their money on – getting to and from work, accessing health/mental health appointments, paying for prescriptions and groceries are a few conflicting priorities. When individuals are not having to spend money on transportation, that opens up their options to use that money elsewhere in support of their family.

Laura Ritterbush, MS, CRC, Chief Mission Officer, Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas

RideKC collaborated with the Center for Economic Information at the University of Missouri Kansas City to better understand the economic impact of the proposed zero-fare policy. You can read the study online. ZeroFare would allow people to spend their money elsewhere, stimulating the economy and improving the lives of many. 

The UMKC study said the top four categories of spending with the size of the impact are: 

• Housing, $2,195,838 more
• Medical, $716,913 more 
• Retail, $606,503 more
• Insurance, $448,834 more

Be sure to follow RideKC on Twitter and Facebook to stay up to date on ZeroFare KC.