KCATA Holds Public Online Meetings To Share Transit Redesign Developed By Customers, Stakeholders

(Kansas City, Mo. – Nov. 9, 2020) – The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority will hold virtual public meetings to present the RideKC Next transit plan developed by customers and stakeholders over the last year and a half. Customers are encouraged to attend the online meetings to provide valuable input about this next phase of the RideKC Next plan in Kansas City, Mo.

“The RideKC Next plan reflects the needs and desires of the community,” said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president and CEO. “We listened and are responding with a plan that provides better access to jobs, health care, education and social equity. It is a plan that addresses community needs for the next 20 years, not the last 20. And, we are providing it zero-fare for riders.”

The RideKC Next plan provides the same amount of service, reallocated to expand access to jobs, health care, education and social equity. The goal of the revised plan is to provide a simpler, easier and more efficient network that connects more people to opportunities. The proposed restructuring includes establishing a frequent grid in the core of the transit network, while also providing flexible service that covers larger areas and provides access to the system.

KCATA has been zero fare since March 2020 to better meet the needs of customers who rely on transit to connect to jobs, essential services, and other opportunities. A single parent with two children saves $2,100 a year, which will be invested elsewhere in the local economy. 

Upcoming Meetings 

There are six RideKC Next informational Zoom sessions scheduled over the next month. Attendees may drop in and out during a session to learn about planned changes and provide input. To join the meeting, click on the provided link. When prompted, select “Run” to launch the meeting. Please wait for RideKC to admit you. A Zoom account is not necessary to attend a meeting. The meetings can also be attended by calling in to an access number. Those call-in details are available at ridekcnext.org.

• Thursday, Nov. 12, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Join this meeting 
• Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7-9 a.m. Join this meeting
• Thursday, Nov. 19, 4-6 p.m. Join this meeting
• Monday, Nov. 23, 12-2 p.m. Join this meeting
• Saturday, Dec. 5, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Join this meeting
• Wednesday, Dec. 9, 5-7 p.m. Join this meeting

What’s proposed in the RideKC Next plan? 

A frequent grid, seven days a week, to connect more people to opportunities.

• All frequent routes would provide service every 15 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, and every 30 minutes on Sundays.
• Routes on the frequent grid will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days per week. Service will be frequent from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
• All MAX service would offer 15-minute frequency to 75th St., with less frequent service south of 75th St.
• East-West service would improve to every 15 minutes on key routes (12 12th St., 39 39th St., 47 47th St. to KU Med Center.
• More weekend service would be provided. Saturdays would offer 85% of weekday levels and Sundays would offer 65% of weekday levels.

A simpler, easier and more efficient network.

• Nearly all fixed routes will run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
• The proposed plan would streamline duplicate coverage connecting neighborhoods to downtown.

The proposal represents input from extensive public outreach obtained in early 2020, as well as analysis of travel patterns and needs during the 2020 pandemic. In addition to the meetings being held now, RideKC will offer personalized travel training in the spring of 2021 leading up to planned implementation in July 2021.

Customers may ask questions or submit a comment by calling 816-346-0300 or email planning@kcata.org.

To review plan materials in advance of the public meetings go to ridekc.org. Maps and hours of service by route will be available online by Nov. 12.