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The new, draft contract between the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and the city contains vague language that suggests the transit agency would limit zero fare to riders who meet certain criteria. The program has been in place since 2020.
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A study by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and the Mid-America Regional Council has recommended two new express bus routes — one in Johnson County and one in Kansas City, Missouri — to get people to and from the airport ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
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The legislation from St. Charles Rep. Adam Schnelting passed the Missouri House last session but died in the Senate. It would also lower the age requirement for a concealed carry permit from 19 to 18.
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COVID-19 relief dollars covered most of the budget gap from the zero-fare program — and they’ll all be spent by 2025. That means the transit agency will have to find additional revenue to cover the difference.
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Federal grants are helping researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City study whether keeping city buses free is sustainable. In collaboration with University Health, they'll also study the health impact on riders.
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On-demand, point-to-point rides are being offered in Kansas City and St. Louis as a way around fixed bus routes and schedules. In rural communities, microtransit is often touted as a tool to get people to work and essential appointments. But reviews of the programs are so far mixed.
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After three years of free-to-ride public buses, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is thinking about charging fares again. Plus: Large areas of Missouri and Kansas are without primary care doctors, but many hope that medical students just starting their careers will help remedy that.
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Money collected from bus fares used to make up 7% to 12% of the agency's total revenues, and the agency hasn't found a long-term solution to continue with zero fare.
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Planning for a future East-West streetcar line is still in the early stages. But the possible line would have sixteen stops connecting Van Brunt Boulevard to the University of Kansas Health System.
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The three-eighths cent sales tax is one of the largest sources of local funding for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.
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Kansas City voters will decide Tuesday on whether to renew a 3/8-cents sales tax that provides 30% of the KCATA's funding. If the tax is voted down, routes will be significantly cut and at least 100 workers will be let go.
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In Missouri, just under 25% of its Head Start centers are within a walkable distance from a public transit spot — making the early childhood program less accessible to families without reliable transportation.