Kansas City is considering more east-west transit options. Here’s how you can weigh in
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KCATA is kicking off a study to look into ways to increase “high-capacity transit” going east to west in the city, and they’re looking for some community input.
The study will examine an eight-mile corridor from the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, to the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City. The potential expansion could include rapid bus transit, the Kansas City streetcar and other “multi-modal transit options,” according to RideKC.
As a part of the study, the area transit authority will look at data related to the eight-mile corridor, form an advisory committee with some key leaders in the area and have public meetings.
The study is set to conclude in 2023, but to start, KCATA is asking riders to take a short survey to share their thoughts on adding more east to west connections to the city.
You can take the east-west survey until June 17.
“We’re making sure that we’re putting the community first, we’re not building a project and then coming to the community and saying, ‘Hey, here’s a project we designed for you.’” said Alex Miller, who is helping lead community engagement on the project.
“So really, this first initial survey here, it’s confirming the purpose and need of the study,” he said.
The Star conducted an online survey and spoke with riders at bus stops in Kansas City. Many people mentioned the need for more east to west options. One rider called the east side a “transit desert.”
Other riders said they would like to see more buses running in the Westport area or between east and west into Kansas City, Kansas, and Johnson County.
Other opportunities for improvement
Separate from the east-west study, KCATA was recently named as a recipient of $514,045 in federal American Rescue Plan dollars to study ways KCATA can better restore service.
The Federal Transit Administration announced that 24 states would get funding as a part of its Route Planning Restoration Program, which is intended to help transit agencies increase ridership and reduce travel times that have been disrupted by the pandemic.
KCATA Vice President Regional Planning and Development Richard Jarrold said that the agency intends to use the money to hire a consultant to study how to restore service and where to employ zero emission buses. Funds will also go towards community outreach and input.
The funding is for planning purposes only so it cannot be used for any actual service.
To contact KCATA with other concerns regarding the bus service, riders can call the agency at (816) 221-0660, email wehearyou@kcata.org or fill out a contact form.
Riders should also take their concerns to their city council representative. You can look up the city council member that represents you by entering your address on the city’s Resource Look-Up engine.
This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
