A bunch of Kansas City bus routes are changing in April. Here’s what to know
READ MORE
How can RideKC better serve bus riders?
Kansas City’s public transportation system has celebrated free fares and electric buses. But many riders say they still have a problem with infrequent and unreliable service. What can be done?
Expand All
If you’re a frequent bus rider in Kansas City, take note. The RideKC bus routes are going to change this spring.
The changes that will start in April include more stops in places where routes connect to each other near East Village, the University of Kansas Health System, Van Brunt and more.
Other changes include combining some routes, and removing others altogether. Due to rider trends, RideKC is also increasing Sunday services.
Later this year after RideKC addresses staffing challenges, some routes will have more frequent stops, with some routes adding enough buses to stop every 15 minutes. There’s no timeline yet on when this will happen by though.
Something else that’s on hold because of staffing challenges? The addition of new planned routes. That means we don’t know yet when the new east-west route in the Northland, north-south route in Eastern Jackson County or new 40 Broadway will added.
.png "Screenshot (57).png")
Here’s the breakdown of all the changes happening on April 3:
Main MAX and Wornall
This route will offer service to Waldo and stay on Broadway for 2022. On the Plaza, it’ll stay on Brookside, with service to South Plaza covered by a new route.
It’ll run from 5 a.m. to midnight every day.
Troost MAX
The route runs from 5 a.m. to midnight every day, going from downtown to 75th Street. Service to 75th Street will go from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Prospect MAX
Prospect’s new route is the same as Troost, with an additional route on Sunday that runs every 30 minutes.
Northeast-Westwide
The route is changing, as it’ll no longer travel to the Northeast Industrial District or Metropolitan Community College’s Business & Technology campus. It now goes to 31st and Van Brunt, and it’ll provide service each hour from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
12th Street
It provides service from the 7th and Minnesota Transit Center in Kansas City, Kansas, to Truman Road, connecting downtown KCK to downtown Kansas City, Missouri. The route runs from 5 a.m. to midnight every day.
Indiana
The route no longer goes to the Kansas City Zoo, but still provides service at Swope Parkway and Meyer Boulevard. A bus will come every hour from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
23rd Street
The defunct Truman Road route will be consolidated into 23rd Street and service will be provided from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Independence
This route doesn’t change. It’ll run at different times
5 a.m. to midnight every day with service between downtown and Winner and Independence
Service will come every 20 minutes from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Otherwise, expect service every 60 minutes.
Troost
It’ll run hourly in connection with Troost MAX. It’ll run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. The difference is that this route will end at East Village Transit Center, where it’ll connect riders to buses for the rest of the area.
27th Street
The route going through Hospital Hill and Crown Center is modified. The revised route will now travel on 27th Street and Gillham Road, between Grand Boulevard and Holmes Street, but it’ll no longer travel on Holmes, Charlotte and 22nd Street.
Blue Ridge
It’ll no longer travel between downtown and 43rd & Blue Ridge Blvd., but it now adds Sunday service. Blue Ridge Limited’s route is consolidated with this route. Service is hourly between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.
31st Street
It’ll go between MCC’s Penn Valley campus to 31st and Van Brunt from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Otherwise, the route runs from 5 a.m. to midnight.
35th Street
It’s modified to offer service to KU Medical through 39th Street and Broadway and it’ll no longer travel on Westport Road, Roanoke and 47th Street to the Plaza. The route will run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
39th Street
The route is unchanged until it reaches east of Jackson, where it now ends at either 31st and Van Brunt or Blue Parkway and Kensington. It’ll run from 5 a.m. to midnight every day.
Broadway
Broadway now has two bus routes.
One route will provide service downtown through Main MAX’s route
The other route will travel to KU Medical Center, the Plaza, and the Shops on Blue Parkway
Both routes will provide hourly service from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. The route going through KU Medical Center will also provide service from 5 a.m to midnight every day.
63rd Street
Nothing is changing to this route. It’ll run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Prospect
This route will continue to end at East Village Transit Center for regional connections and will continue to run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
75th Street
This route is being merged into these hourly routes
Main MAX
Indiana
Prospect MAX
Quivira to 75th Street and 95th Street for routes going into Johnson County
Front Street
It’s modified to serve Front Street to I-435 and further east along Missouri 210 highway north of the Missouri River. It was called Casino Cruiser, and the name change reflects the focus to Front Street and MO-210 instead of casinos.
Service will still be provided from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Paseo
Nothing changes with Paseo’s route. It’ll still run from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
South Kansas City Flex
Nothing changes with this route except that it will now offer mobile booking and vehicle tracking. You can do that here.
State Avenue
This now extends to East Village Transit Center for connections to other routes. The route going through downtown KCMO will travel on Main Street with a connection to the streetcar. The hours of operation won’t change.
Argentine
No changes with this route.
Quindaro-Amazon
The route will now end at 7th and Minnesota, with State Avenue and 12th Street routes providing service east of the destination. The hours of operation won’t change.
7th Street
Nothing changes with the route, as it’ll continue to run Monday through Saturday between 7th and Minnesota and 43rd and Booth.
North Oak
North Oak’s route will now terminate at East Village Transit Center instead of traveling to 27th and Main. It’ll run from 5 a.m to midnight every day.
KCI-Boardwalk
The route will continue to provide service to terminals B and C, as it was adjusted to accommodate construction at the airport. Service will still be available from 5 a.m. to midnight every day.
Meadowbrook
This route is consolidated with Vivion-Antioch, meaning the route will change to provide service to bus riders between Antioch Crossing and Armour Road. It’ll no longer travel to parts of North Oak that are north of Armour, 42nd Street, North Holmes and 44th Street, as it’ll prioritize North Kansas City Hospital riders.
It’ll run rom 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day.
Barry Road
A new Northland route is being added in 2022, which will connect Boardwalk Square to Conistor Park & Ride in Liberty, by way of MCC’s Maple Woods campus. It’ll operate from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Tiffany Springs
Nothing changes with this route, but they’re adding mobile booking and vehicle tracking through the RideKC Flex app.
North Kansas City Flex
The hours are changing to 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, as they try to provide consistent service.
Gladstone-Antioch Flex
The route is expanding to have better coverage and service in the Northland. Winwood-Gracemor and and East Gladstone’s routes are being combined with Gladstone-Antioch to help areas with limited service.
The route will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., every day.
Lee’s Summit - Independence
Formerly called TMC-Lakewood, this new route comes with a lot of changes
It’ll no longer directly serve the Cardinal Ridge Apartments
The bus stop moves to Truman Medical Center’s main entrance
The route extends to downtown Lee’s Summit and ends at Lee’s Summit City Hall
The new route will operate hourly, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.
WHAT ROUTES ARE GONE?
These routes will no longer provide service or are being consolidated with other routes
9th Street
Woodland-Brooklyn
Truman Road and Truman Road Limited
Cleveland-Antioch
Ward Parkway and Ward Parkway Limited
Universities-Crossroads
Riverside-Antioch
Boardwalk-Antioch
Vivion-Antioch
Winnwood-Gracemor
East Gladstone
West Gladstone
KCI Express Limited
Are you a frequent bus rider? How do these changes impact your commute? Tell us more about what these changes mean for you, and ask us any questions you have at kcq@kcstar.com or with the form below.
This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
