Bus fare for the Prospect MAX, a 10-mile bus route through Kansas City’s urban core, will be free indefinitely for riders, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced Thursday.

Riders weren’t charged bus fare during a 90-day period when the Prospect MAX service was launched last December. Lucas, along with Robbie Makinen, chief executive of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, said the service would be fare-free indefinitely.

“Our new Prospect MAX line has proven that eliminating bus fares does increase ridership, and thus, mobility for Kansas City residents,” Lucas said in a news release.

“I’m proud that – with Mr. Makinen’s leadership – we are able to keep this heavily-trafficked bus line fare free for all Kansas City riders. This is a positive step forward in our continued work on our Zero Fare Transit initiative.”

The Prospect MAX is a rapid bus system that runs from downtown to 75th Street. Since last December, the service has provided more than 270,000 rides.

Lucas has made free public transit, additional police services and affordable housing among his budget priorities. Last fall, the city council advanced a resolution directing city staffers to search for funds to make fare-free public transit possible.

Officials have estimated eliminating bus fares will cost about $8 million. In his budget proposal, Lucas has designated $4.8 million for that effort.

This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Prospect MAX bus service will be fare-free indefinitely for riders."