By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
September 30, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — In an effort to improve passenger satisfaction by providing a smoother ride and making sure buses arrive on time, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority [KCATA] will soon combine bus stops throughout the Northeast and other locations around the Metro.

On Oct. 4, 2015, six routes will be affected, including 24-Independence and 30-Northeast. Stops being removed will have Rider Alerts posted at each location. In a press release from the KCATA, the biggest factor in removing a stop is low ridership at a specific location, which will provide a smoother ride and help keep buses on time.

Several other Metro routes have been reviewed for efficiency of stops:

• 25-Troost

• 121-Cleveland-Antioch

• 108-Indiana

• 173-Casino Cruiser

Bus stops selected for removal are based on a number of factors, including the number of boardings at those locations, the proximity of nearby stops, as well as safe access to the stops from the street and sidewalks. KCATA reviewed the number of people boarding at each bus stop and in some cases, the average number of daily boardings was at or near zero. If there is a bench at a stop that is being removed, the bench will then be moved to a nearby stop. The next phase by the KCATA will focus on downtown stops.

According to the KCATA, removing closely placed stops that are rarely used should ensure buses operate on time and provide more reliability for transit riders. The reduction also allows the KCATA to concentrate upkeep and improvements at stops where ridership is higher. Currently, there are about nine bus stops every mile on the southbound 25-Troost route. When the plan is implemented, there will be about five stops every mile. There are now about eight stops every mile on the 30-Northeast route. After stops are removed, there will be about five stops every mile.

Chuck Ferguson, the KCATA’s chief planning officer, briefed the KCATA’s Board of Commissioners on the plan last Wednesday. He said planners are eager for public comment on the proposed changes.

“We are embracing the opportunity to engage the public on a plan we hope provides top-flight bus service,” Ferguson said, adding the results of this decision will help them plan for future stop improvements on other routes.

Visit the KCATA’s website, www.kcata.org, or look for printed bulletins on other routes for more details about which routes are affected. To send comments to KCATA about the stop removal, email metro@kcata.org or call 816-346-0300. For route and schedule information, contact the Regional Call Center at (816) 221-0660, weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., or visit us at http://www.kcata.org.