By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
April 18, 2012

Fifty-four bus routes in Kansas City, Mo., will soon undergo changes. Twenty-one routes are slated to change this July with the rest to be implemented in October of 2012 and January of 2013.

“We want a better product for our riders. We want a better product that works,” said Danny O’Connor, director of planning with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA).

During 2011, KCATA worked with Nelson/Nygaard, a transit and multi-modal transportation firm in Boston, Mass., to evaluate Kansas City’s Metro bus system from top to bottom. Nelson/Nygaard studied each route, recorded its effectiveness and ridership levels and provided recommendations.

KCATA’s goal is to maximize efficiency, attract new riders and complement Kansas City’s current layout of job centers and residential areas.

Some routes will receive less service while others will receive more service or new service.

Routes in Historic Northeast that are slated to change in July include 24-Independence and 24X-Independence Express.

Changes to 24-Independence include:

“All short trips will travel between downtown and Winner and White, and all long trips will travel between downtown and the Independence Transit Center (Truman and Noland).  Long trips serving the Independence Transit Center will continue to travel via Winner Road and Lexington Avenue in Independence.”

Changes to 24X-Independence Express include:

“Route 24X would be replaced with new Route 15 Truman Road Express service, which would provide peak period limited stop service between Independence and downtown Kansas City in a manner similar to Route 24X, but with more convenient schedules.”

A preliminary schedule of the route changes is available online at www.kcata.org (click on the Metro2012 symbol) and at several locations throughout the Kansas City metro.

Northeast residents may pick up a copy of the proposed schedule changes at the North-East Public Library, 6000 Wilson Rd.; the KCATA Offices, 1200 E. 18th St.; and at City Hall, 414 E. 12th St.

Transit users may review the preliminary schedules and submit comments or questions no later than April 22 through the following methods:

•Online form: www.kcata.org/metro2012

•Mail: KCATA, Planning Dept., 1200 E. 18th St., Kansas City, Mo. 64108

•Phone: (816) 346-0300 (leave comment on pre-recorded line)

•Email: metro2012@kcata.org.