Need to catch a flight? Kansas City asks for transit ideas between downtown and KCI
Forget asking a friend or booking a ride-hailing service, Kansas City is looking for other ways to get people to and from KCI Airport.
The city released a request for vendors and service providers to show their interest in developing a rapid transit system that would connect KCI to downtown Kansas City as well as providing a plan to meet the transportation needs of thousands of international visitors during the 2026 World Cup.
“Kansas City is proud to boast a world-class downtown and a world-class airport—and today we take the next step in our new bold effort to better connect the flying public stepping off an airplane at Kansas City International to our City’s urban core,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas in a news release.
“In conjunction with our zero-fare transit initiative and streetcar route expansions, we are committed to sustaining a transit system connecting people all over Kansas City for generations,” he said. “Kansas City government will continue working to enhance Kansas City’s public transportation network, ensuring it is equitable, reliable, sustainable, and accessible to all our communities in all areas of our city.”
In the two-pronged request, the city is “aiming to identify reliable, efficient, and innovative transportation solutions for decades to come.”
The city is asking those who respond to focus on two transit goals:
- An in-depth assessment and strategic plan for addressing rapid transportation needs between downtown and KCI as well as other key destinations. The city is looking for “innovative, inclusive and sustainable” solutions along with estimated costs and potential funding or financing sources.
- Transportation strategies to meet the influx of international visitors for the World Cup as they make their way to locations across the Kansas City region. The scope is to include analysis of transportation demands for large-scale events as well as managing international arrivals and departures.
“Fixed route transit between the airport and downtown will unlock new opportunities for jobs, access to services, and for land development projects,” City Manager Brian Platt said in the news release. “This new fixed rail service to key destinations will ensure our residents and visitors have the benefit of safe, affordable, reliable transit options to move around our city.”
The deadline to respond to the request for expressions of interest is July 20. They can be submitted through the city’s procurement system. The review process will take four to six weeks.
This story was originally published June 14, 2023 at 8:14 AM.
