KC transit agency cuts bus service, part-time drivers due to stay-at-home order
Citing a sharp decrease in ridership and higher absenteeism among its bus drivers, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority announced it will temporarily cut its daily bus service beginning Sunday.
RideKC buses originating in Kansas City will run on modified service with most routes using their Saturday schedule that will end at 9 p.m., the transit agency said in a news release.
For many routes that don’t currently run on Saturdays, a Saturday schedule will be added to accommodate other regional transit services.
All Sunday routes will run as normal, but will end at 9 p.m.
There are no changes to Johnson County, Independence or Unified Government Transit routes.
The KCATA said average daily ridership plunged after the stay-at-home orders were issued. The agency said it is also seeing higher than normal absenteeism — more than 120 drivers daily.
“Even with a decline in ridership and higher absenteeism we hope to keep all of our full-time Bus Operators employed during this crisis,” the agency said in the release. The agency, however, has laid off about 66 part-time bus drivers.
The transit agency said it post links to the temporary schedules on its website at www.ridekc.org. The schedules are expected to be available by Thursday.
For further information, contact the Regional Call Center at 816-221-0660, weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
