Construction to Begin on Downtown Portion of Prospect MAX Project

Kansas City, Mo. | Aug. 23, 2018 – Construction is set to begin next week on the downtown portion of the Prospect MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The $55.8 million project will bring enhanced transit service along Kansas City’s 10-mile Prospect Avenue corridor from downtown to 75th Street.

The downtown portion of the project includes construction of transit facilities at 12th Street and Grand Boulevard and at Petticoat Lane and Main Street. Work is expected to begin Aug. 27 at 12th and Grand and Sept. 10 at Petticoat and Main. Construction at both locations is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.

Downtown bus stops will be temporarily relocated during construction:

• Eastbound 12th at Grand boarding will move to 12th at McGee Street
• Northbound Grand at 12th boarding will move south, closer to 13th Street
• Westbound 11th at Petticoat boarding will move east, closer to Walnut Street

12th & Grand temporary stop map

Petticoat & Main temporary stop map

No disruption to bus routes is expected. Pedestrians are encouraged to follow the signs showing safe walking paths around construction to the temporary bus stops.

Once complete, the downtown transit facilities will offer:

• Improved pedestrian sidewalks
• Level boarding MAX platforms for quicker boarding
• Snow-ice melt system for platforms
• Real-time arrivals on interactive kiosks
• Bike parking
• Modified bike lane on Grand to improve safety for cyclists
• Ticket vending machine to speed boarding at 12th and Grand
• More compact shelter design to allow more space for pedestrians at Petticoat and Main

Reducing bicycle-bus conflicts at 12th and Grand is a priority for the project. A “floating bus stop” will be installed with bicycle traffic flowing behind the bus shelter. It will be the first time this type of design will be implemented in Kansas City.

“KCATA and the City of Kansas City, MO, worked diligently to develop a design that is safer for all users,” KCATA President and CEO Robbie Makinen said. “It’s an improvement for transit users, pedestrians and cyclists. We’re excited to be making these much-needed improvements to downtown. We hope it becomes a model for future bicycle-transit collaboration.”

MAX is RideKC’s brand for Bus Rapid Transit. KCATA operates two MAX BRT lines: Main MAX (opened 2005) and Troost MAX (opened 2011). Prospect MAX is projected to be complete in fall 2019.