The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is providing special shuttles from Bartle Hall’s overnight warming center to various daytime warming centers in Kansas City, Missouri to help the city’s houseless survive the frigid winter temperatures.
The special RideKC shuttles will leave Bartle Hall and head to Southeast Community Center and Hillcrest Community Center shortly after 8 a.m. when residents must leave Bartle Hall. RideKC Road Supervisors will be onsite to help direct people to the correct transit routes to get to a warming center. The free shuttles will be in service every morning until the temperature warms up.
“KCATA’s four pillars of transit include providing access to jobs, healthcare, education and affordable housing,” said Robbie Makinen, President and CEO of KCATA. “For those who don’t have housing, we feel compelled to get them to a warm and safe place. This opportunity to partner with the Downtown Council allows us to run towards those who need us most, not run away from them.”
Many of the warming centers in Kansas City, Mo. are currently on existing RideKC routes. You can find them on the RideKC website, RideKC.org. You can also download the Transit App to find real-time bus information about RideKC routes. The Regional Call Center, 816-221-0660, is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.