By Paul Thompson
Northeast News
July 6, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The 30-Northeast bus route has had a long history of poor on-time performance, according to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, but the KCATA is ready to make changes in order to fix the problem.

On Monday, June 27, the KCATA issued a press release announcing a slew of route changes. The announcement was highlighted by the expansion of the 30-Northeast route to the West Side, while also traveling farther southbound to 31st and Southwest Blvd. The 30-Northeast will also get a new name: the 11-Northeast-Westside route.

KCATA Chief Communications Officer Cindy Baker expressed optimism that the new route would better serve Kansas City’s transit riders.

“We’re really excited about this change,” said Baker. “The route will serve 30% more people, and 20% more jobs by providing access to the West Side.”

Currently, the 30-Northeast ends at the 10th and Main Transit Center. Beginning on July 3, however, the changes were instituted. The 11-Northeast-Westside route will travel through 11th and 12th Streets to reach the West Side neighborhood. On the Northeast end of the route, the bus will travel clockwise in a loop, heading westbound on Front Street and southbound on Universal Ave. The expanded route will utilize a larger bus and will return at each stop roughly every 30 minutes during the weekdays. On nights and weekends, the bus will still arrive every 60 minutes. There will be 10 stops on the schedule, up from eight stops on the 30-Northeast.

“I hear people all the time talk about the poor on-time performance on the 30,” said Baker. “We have long heard about the need for more transit on the West Side. This seems like a great opportunity to connect the Northeast with the West Side.”

All things considered, Baker thinks the new route will wind up being a benefit to West Side residents and Northeast residents alike.

“The current customer base ought to see an improvement,” said Baker. “There really was a nice rationale there.”