Poster Contest Winners Announced

During Earth Week, the ATA sponsored the Every Day is Earth Day Poster and Poetry Competition for students in the Kansas City area. The contest called for posters and poetry around the theme, Every Day is Earth Day, to raise awareness of transit’s environmental benefits through creative, exciting and attention-getting interior bus signs.

Watch a video slideshow of the winning posters.

The winning submissions were drawn by students from grades 1 to 9 and feature a range of environmental themes, from riding the bus to recycling. More than 70 children from around the metro area sent in their drawings. 

Seventeen posters were selected to become interior bus signs. The works of art will be displayed on Metro buses all over the Kansas City area this summer.

ATA brought a new hybrid MAX bus to Derrick Thomas Academy (DTA) on Tuesday, June 22, for a recognition ceremony. ATA General Manager Mark Huffer spoke to the winning students, staff and parents that gathered at the school. Huffer presented the students recognition certificates and a mock-up of their posters. The event concluded with a short bus ride on the hybrid MAX bus.

Click on the poster for a closer view at the winning entries:

Noemi A.

Helene Bechtel

KyJuan Boyles, Derrick Thomas Academy

Taylor Drummer

Shelby Edwards, Kingsville R-1

Mykhel Harris, Derrick Thomas Academy

Alana Hawkins, Derrick Thomas Academy

Charlee Hodson, Kingsville R-1

Lori L.-A., Kingsville R-1

Travis Mayo, Derrick Thomas Academy

Itialya Montgomery-Smith, Derrick Thomas

Harmoni Moore, Kipp Endeavor Academy

Shelby Moses, Pleasant Lea Middle School

Monasia Payton

Anthony Rubin, Derrick Thomas Academy

Terry Standifer, Pathway Academy

Brittany S., Kingsville R-1

Governor Releases Budget, Transit Funding Reduced

The budget for the State of Missouri has been finalized by the Governor. The one-time appropriation of $3 million that was requested by the Missouri House and Senate has been restricted indefinitely, making the release of the funds dependent on the state’s economic condition. Additionally, the Governor is restricting over $600,000 that is currently received from the state of Missouri on an annual basis under the State Transit Assistance Program. The reduction to this program will affect all recipients. Rural transit will receive approximately $158,000, down from $1 million to; urban transit will be restricted to $400,000, a reduction from $2.6 million.

We understand the extraordinary pressures in the State budget and the very difficult decisions Governor Nixon is facing.  Under these conditions, we are not necessarily surprised at the outcome. However, we continue to be disappointed that Missouri funding for public transportation is among the lowest state funding in the nation.

KCATA has a reserve that may assist in avoiding severe service cuts immediately. However, the reserve can only sustain transit service for a short time, and Kansas City may be faced with drastic public transit service reductions in the future if a new and significant alternative funding source is not identified.

Public transit is key to economic recovery, stability and growth, in that it provides Kansas City residents with access to jobs and provides employers access to the labor market.  Without transportation to jobs, new job creation is not fully effective.  For these reasons, it is in Missouri’s best interest to give public transit first priority should state revenue exceed budgeted amounts.