The Kansas City region is embarking on a new plan setting the agenda for public transportation for the next 20 years, laying out new ideas to better connect our community.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority partnered with the Mid-America Regional Council, Johnson County, KC Streetcar, Wyandotte County and Independence to develop a new version of the Smart Moves plan that was first adopted in 2005. The new updated version — called Smart Moves 3.0 — serves as a guide for the development of new projects and initiatives that will enhance our ability to get around the region during the next 20 years. The plan promotes efficient and high-volume transit service connected to mobility hubs where riders can seamlessly move from a bus to other types of transportation, including a streetcar, bikes and ride-sharing services.
The Smart Moves 3.0 plan can be found at the Mid-America Regional Council website at kcsmartmoves.org
During the next two decades, the report recommends adding 20 new bus routes, extending some transit routes, improving the efficiency of other routes, extending service hours and increasing travel frequencies across the Kansas City region.
Fixed-route bus service is still the main element of the updated Smart Moves plan, although it groups routes into different categories depending on the type of service, frequency, operating characteristics and the capital amenities. The plan calls for creating “fast-and-frequent” routes with service every 15 minutes. The fast-and-frequent routes would be the system’s spine. There would be supporting routes with service running every 30 minutes and express routes operating between the suburbs and downtown at rush hour and possibly at midday.