KCATA studies transportation needs in southwest Johnson County, Leavenworth

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is working with its regional partners to find public transportation solutions in southwest Johnson County and nearby Leavenworth County.

Planners are studying transportation alternatives for the many employers in the Edgerton and Gardner areas, including BNSF Railway’s Intermodal facility, Logistics Park Kansas City, New Century AirCenter and Amazon.  

An important aspect of the study looks at reviewing transportation options for employees at the logistics park and the intermodal, which are expected to generate 13,000 jobs within the next 10 to 20 years.

The plan’s goal  is to improve access to jobs with many different types of transportation whether its on-demand services, vanpools, ride hailing or traditional bus service.

Among the concepts being studied are mobility hubs where people can move from one type of transportation to another with ease.

Planners from the KCATA, the Mid-America Regional Council, Johnson County, and the cities of Gardner and Edgerton have been meeting with residents, workers, and employers to get a good idea about their transportation needs. Recommendations are expected before the end of the year.

Just one of the many warehouses located near BNSF Railway's Intermodal Facility in Edgerton, Kan.

Meanwhile a little farther north, the KCATA and MARC have another study underway examining how public transportation needs can be answered in Leavenworth County.

Public transportation is limited in Leavenworth County and we are developing transit options within the city of Leavenworth as well as throughout the county.

We are looking at a variety of alternatives, including service within the city of Leavenworth and to other activity centers such as Fort Leavenworth.

We are also studying more regional alternatives  that might connect Leavenworth to western Wyandotte County or Kansas City International Airport across the state line in Missouri.

The final plan is expected to recommend various transit options, services and routes as well as realistic funding possibilities for addressing Leavenworth County’s transportation needs.