(Kansas City, Mo. – Updated May 5, 2016) The Kansas City region will join together offering free bus fares on Friday, May 6, in celebration of the historic opening of the new downtown Kansas City streetcar. In addition, commuters and streetcar revelers should be aware of special service, detours and shuttles available this weekend.
“We are so excited to be part of this watershed event for downtown Kansas City,” said Robbie Makinen, president and chief executive officer of the KCATA. “We hope our residents will use this opportunity to ride the bus and connect with the streetcar to get a taste of what a seamless, regional transit system might be like in the future.”
On Friday, May 6, fares on all bus routes serving Kansas City, Johnson County, Wyandotte County and Independence will be free, in celebration of the Streetcar Grand Opening. KCATA paratransit offered by KCATA will also be free to ride. Regular fares apply on Saturday, May 7.
Main between Pershing and 20th will be closed 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, and from 6 a.m. on Friday, May 6, until 5 a.m. Sunday, May 8. Main Street MAX, 661-Olathe Xpress, 670-Gardner-OP Xpress, 672-JoCo Downtown Midday, 673-South OP Xpress and 678-Shawnee Xpress will be affected. Detailed reroute information is available at www.RideKC.org.
The Regional Call Center will be available at (816) 221-0660 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, to assist customers with questions about KC Streetcar and transit to downtown. The Call Center will be open regular weekday hours on Friday, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In conjunction with First Friday in the Crossroads and the Jazz District, RideKC: Bridj will provide free shuttles between the Crossroads, East Crossroads, and the Jazz District from 5 – 8 p.m. on Friday. The Jazz District hosts their first ever First Friday on May 6. Shuttle stops will be at 18th & Walnut, 18th & Locust and 18th & Paseo.
On Friday and Saturday, buses will provide a Streetcar Link along the streetcar route to reduce wait times for the streetcar. Streetcar riders will get off the streetcar at the end of the line or along the line to allow other customers to board. The Streetcar Link will travel the same route as the streetcar, stopping at any of the streetcar stations.