Kansas City Area Transportation Authority

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is a public transit agency in metropolitan Kansas City. It operates the Metro Area Express (MAX) bus rapid transit service in Kansas City, Missouri, and 78 local bus routes in seven counties of Missouri and Kansas. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 12,006,600, about 38,000 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority bus in RideKC livery
Founded1969
Headquarters1200 E. 18th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
1701 W. Old 56 Hwy
Olathe, Kansas
Service areaKansas City Metro Area
Service typeBus service
Express bus service
Bus rapid transit
Paratransit
Routes78 Bus routes
6 MetroFlex routes
3 Bus rapid transit routes
1 Streetcar Line
Stops6,504 Bus Stops 113 MAX Stations
Fleet300 buses
31 MAX buses
Daily ridership38,000 (weekdays, Q4 2023)[1]
Annual ridership12,006,600 (2023)[2]
Websiteridekc.org
kcata.org

The KCATA is a bi-state agency formed by an interstate compact between Kansas and Missouri in 1965–6. Authorized by both states' legislatures and an act of Congress,[3] the agency's jurisdiction includes Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. The agency is governed by a board of ten commissioners, five from each state.[4] Operations began in 1969, when the KCATA took over bus routes previously run by the Kansas City Public Service Company.

In 2014, KCATA, Johnson County Transit, UG Transit and IndeBus announced that all services would be merged into one service, RideKC by 2019. The Johnson County, KS Commissioners pulled out of KCATA management agreement effective August 1, 2022 but retained the partnership with the regional RideKC transit branding and planning.

Fares edit

KCTA offers a variety of fare options that vary based on type of service and passenger eligibility, with reduced fares for children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities.[5] Monthly passes are valid for 31 consecutive days from first activation, while day passes are only able to be used for one service day.[6] Visitor passes are able to be purchased online and are able to be used for three consecutive days. Most passes are accepted across regional transit providers.

Transit hubs edit

There are many Transit Centers and major Park and Rides in the RideKC service area.

Transit Centers edit

  • Boardwalk Square
  • Antioch Center
  • Independence Transit Center
  • 10th & Main Transit Center
  • 7th & Minnesota Transit Center
  • Bannister & Drury Transit Center
  • Mission Transit Center
  • Village West Transit Center
  • Blue Ridge Crossing

Major Park & Rides edit

  • Metro North Park & Ride
  • 47th & State Ave Metrocenter Park & Ride
  • 3rd & Grand Park & Ride
  • 74th Terrace & Broadway Park & Ride
  • 31st & Troost Park & Ride
  • Oak Park Mall Park & Ride
  • 4th & Nelson Park & Ride
  • Shawnee Station Park & Ride
  • JCCC Carlesn Center Park & Ride
  • KU Edwards Park & Ride
  • Great Mall of the Great Plains Park & Ride

Bus rapid transit edit

Bus rapid transit premiered with the Metro Area Express in July 2005. It is about 12-mile (19 km) linking the River Market, Downtown, Crown Center and the Plaza Area. The first BRT Line is in service on Main Street. A second BRT Line is the 13-mile (21 km) Troost Avenue which started service on January 1, 2011. The third BRT line is along the Prospect Ave corridor and began service in December 2019.[7]

Bus fleet edit

The RideKC Bus fleet as of February 6, 2019.

Active fleet edit

40 Foot Bus Fleet

Fleet No. Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Seating Notes
203-209 2006 Gillig Advantage 40' Cummins ISL 280hp Allison B400R5 41
2600-2618 6 buses remain
210-222 2007
2700-2711
223-225 2009
4000-4005 2010 Cummins ISL09
4100-4105 2011
226-229
236-239 2013
4400-4407 2014 Advantage 40' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G * First CNG Buses
4500-4514 2015
243-245 2016 Advantage 40' Cummins ISL-G
4600-4601 Advantage 40' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G
4700-4719 2017
4800-4819 2018 Cummins L9N
3520-3523 2010 BRT 40' Hybrid Cummins ISB09 6.7 280hp Allison H40EP 37 * First hybrid Buses
3524-3533 BRT 40' Cummins ISL09 280hp Voith D864.5
3534 2011 BRT 40' Hybrid Cummins ISB09 6.7 280hp Allison H40EP
3535-3536 2016 BRT Plus 40' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G Voith D864.5
3537-3547 2019 Cummins L9N
3548-3559

29 Foot Bus Fleet (Includes Cutaways)

Fleet No. Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Seating Notes
S137-S159 2008 Gillig Advantage 29' Cummins ISL Allison B400R5 25 * No Rear Door
S160-S181 2011 Cummins ISL09 23
S182-S193 2012
S194-S195 2013 Advantage 29' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G * First CNG buses
229-235 BRT 29' Cummins ISL09
S196-S202 2014 Advantage 29' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G
S203-S210
240-242 2016 BRT 29' CNG
246-249 Advantage 29' Cummins ISL09
S211-S228 2018 Advantage 29' CNG Cummins L9N
250-252 Advantage 29' Cummins ISL09
253-255 2019 Advantage 29'CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G

References edit

  1. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 80 Part 1.djvu/862 – Wikisource, the free online library".
  4. ^ "Board of Commissioners | Who We Are | About KCATA | KCATA".
  5. ^ KCTA Fares
  6. ^ "Regional Passes". Archived from the original on 2015-10-25.
  7. ^ "MAX for Prospect Ave. | Planning | RideKC".

External links edit