Kansas City Area Transportation Authority Explained

Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
Founded:1969
Headquarters:1200 E. 18th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
1701 W. Old 56 Hwy
Olathe, Kansas
Service Area:Kansas City Metro Area
Service Type:Bus service
Express bus service
Bus rapid transit
Paratransit
Routes:78 Bus routes
6 MetroFlex routes
3 Bus rapid transit routes
1 Streetcar Line
Stops:6,504 Bus Stops113 MAX Stations
Fleet:300 buses
31 MAX buses
Ridership:
Annual Ridership:
Website:

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is a public transit agency in metropolitan Kansas City. It operates the Metro Area Express (MAX) bus rapid transit service in Kansas City, Missouri, and 78 local bus routes in seven counties of Missouri and Kansas. In, the system had a ridership of, about per weekday as of .

The KCATA is a bi-state agency formed by an interstate compact between Kansas and Missouri in 1965–6. Authorized by both states' legislatures and an act of Congress,[1] the agency's jurisdiction includes Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. The agency is governed by a board of ten commissioners, five from each state.[2] Operations began in 1969, when the KCATA took over bus routes previously run by the Kansas City Public Service Company.

In 2014, KCATA, Johnson County Transit, UG Transit and IndeBus announced that all services would be merged into one service, RideKC by 2019. The Johnson County, KS Commissioners pulled out of KCATA management agreement effective August 1, 2022 but retained the partnership with the regional RideKC transit branding and planning.

Fares

KCTA offers a variety of fare options that vary based on type of service and passenger eligibility, with reduced fares for children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities.[3] Monthly passes are valid for 31 consecutive days from first activation, while day passes are only able to be used for one service day.[4] Visitor passes are able to be purchased online and are able to be used for three consecutive days. Most passes are accepted across regional transit providers.

Transit hubs

There are many Transit Centers and major Park and Rides in the RideKC service area.

Transit Centers

Major Park & Rides

Bus rapid transit

See main article: Metro Area Express. Bus rapid transit premiered with the Metro Area Express in July 2005. It is about 12miles linking the River Market, Downtown, Crown Center and the Plaza Area. The first BRT Line is in service on Main Street. A second BRT Line is the 13miles Troost Avenue which started service on January 1, 2011. The third BRT line is along the Prospect Ave corridor and began service in December 2019.[5]

Bus fleet

The RideKC Bus fleet as of February 6, 2019.

Active fleet

40 Foot Bus Fleet

Fleet No. Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Seating Notes
203-2092006 Gillig Advantage 40' Cummins ISL 280hp Allison B400R5 41
2600-26186 buses remain
210-2222007
2700-2711
223-2252009
4000-40052010 Cummins ISL09
4100-41052011
226-229
236-2392013
4400-44072014 Advantage 40' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G
  • First CNG Buses
4500-45142015
243-2452016 Advantage 40' Cummins ISL-G
4600-4601Advantage 40' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G
4700-47192017
4800-48192018 Cummins L9N
3520-35232010 BRT 40' Hybrid Cummins ISB09 6.7 280hp Allison H40EP 37
  • First hybrid Buses
3524-3533BRT 40' Cummins ISL09 280hp Voith D864.5
35342011 BRT 40' Hybrid Cummins ISB09 6.7 280hp Allison H40EP
3535-35362016 BRT Plus 40' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G Voith D864.5
3537-35472019 Cummins L9N
3548-3559

29 Foot Bus Fleet (Includes Cutaways)

Fleet No. Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Seating Notes
S137-S1592008 Gillig Advantage 29' Cummins ISL Allison B400R5 25
  • No Rear Door
S160-S1812011 Cummins ISL09 23
S182-S1932012
S194-S1952013 Advantage 29' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G
  • First CNG buses
229-235BRT 29' Cummins ISL09
S196-S2022014 Advantage 29' CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G
S203-S210
240-2422016 BRT 29' CNG
246-249Advantage 29' Cummins ISL09
S211-S2282018 Advantage 29' CNG Cummins L9N
250-252Advantage 29' Cummins ISL09
253-2552019 Advantage 29'CNG Cummins Westport ISL-G

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 80 Part 1.djvu/862 – Wikisource, the free online library.
  2. Web site: Board of Commissioners | Who We Are | About KCATA | KCATA.
  3. http://www.kcata.org/fares/ KCTA Fares
  4. Web site: Regional Passes. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151025200350/http://ridekc.org/fares/regional-passes . 2015-10-25 .
  5. Web site: MAX for Prospect Ave. | Planning | RideKC.