Johnson County to launch new KCI bus service for World Cup. Could it stick around?
A new bus service linking Overland Park, Lenexa and Kansas City International Airport is expected to launch ahead of World Cup matches in Kansas City next year.
The service will run from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily with 25-minute gaps in between buses, according to a presentation given to Overland Park City Council members, who gave a final approval to contributing $200,000 to the service on Monday.
Lenexa City Council members are expected to take a similar vote Tuesday. Johnson County and the two cities are each expected to contribute $200,000 to match a $2 million grant from the federal government that will back the service.
Testing for the service is expected to start in early 2026 and run for a few months past the end of the World Cup.
The service, which will be operated by Johnson County Transit, would connect two locations with the airport: Lenexa City Center at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard and the Overland Park Convention Center at 6000 College Boulevard.
“I think it’s key to note that this is for anybody,” said Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog. “Any business traveler or any traveler is welcome to ride this bus. It’s not just for World Cup guests. Keep an eye out if you’re a regular going to KCI, and you’re tired of driving on your own and parking and paying for parking, this service will be available.”
Testing of the system is planned for early 2026 with public service beginning around March, Johnson County Transit Director Joshua Powers wrote in an email to The Star Tuesday. The agency estimates funding to keep the service running will last for about nine months.
“There are many details and variables when it comes to the impact that the World Cup will have on our current and potential future transit services, so these details will become more firm as we continue to prepare for the pilot,” Powers said.
Bus pilot project
Overland Park Assistant City Manager Jack Messer told council members Monday the bus service would act as a pilot project.
“We’re hopeful that what this will produce is some information that tells us about the success of transit service between these points,” he said. “One of the most successful transit services we have in Johnson County — it works, and it works on a regular basis — is that service from Johnson County Community College to (the University of Kansas) in Lawrence, that runs on a regular basis. It’s similar to that.”
The window will provide officials with data points that could inform decisions about establishing a permanent run to the airport. The transit agency doesn’t currently have an estimate for how many people will use the service, Powers said.
“The point of the pilot is to assess the feasibility and attractiveness of an airport service as a potential permanent service, and the World Cup offers the opportunity to operate such a service during a time of increased travel in the region,” he said. “At the moment, there is not funding identified for the airport service to continue past the pilot period.”
In Overland Park, the convention center will serve as a welcoming center for guests coming from the airport around Kansas City’s World Cup matches.
“This will consist of areas to relax, gain information, food and beverage options, luggage handling and activities associated with welcoming visitors to the area,” a staff report for Overland Park’s City Council meeting on Monday said.
Kansas City will host four group stage matches for the 2026 men’s World Cup tournament in June, as well as a pair of knockout-round matches in July.
Officials have said the event is expected to bring an estimated 650,000 visitors to Kansas City next summer. Earlier this year, KC2026, the organizing committee for World Cup logistics in Kansas City, announced it had signed a lease for 200 buses that would be used to haul people around town to matches, the FIFA Fan Festival, hotels and the airport.
