The Metro Celebrates Earth Day And Helps People Save Thousands A Year
Posted on: Apr 17, 2013
How-To-Ride At City Market, April 20
(Kansas City, Mo. – April 17, 2013) Whether people want to save the planet or save some cash, The Metro can help people accomplish both. In honor of Earth Day, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is will help people find out just how easy and economical it is to ride The Metro. The How-to-Ride Clinic will be held at the 3rd & Grand Park-and-Ride at City Market on Saturday, April 20, from 8 to 11 a.m.
People can learn the simple basics of riding public transit: how to find their route, read a schedule, pay the right fare, and where to get off. In a few minutes, they will be ready to start saving and ride The Metro like a pro.
"Switching from driving to riding public transportation for even a few of their trips is a proven way for individuals to cut monthly and yearly transportation costs," Director of Marketing Cindy Baker said.
According to the American Public Transportation Association, riding public transportation saves individuals, on average, $9,947 annually and $829 per month based on the March 26, 2013, average national gas price ($3.65 per gallon-reported by AAA) and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.
Ridership on The Metro exceeded 16.1 million trips in 2012, the second highest annual ridership in nearly two decades. Ridership last year was up 3.6% over 2011. The Metro has made several service improvements in the last year that are resulting in more people riding The Metro:
• Main Street MAX offers more frequent weekday and weeknight service.
• Troost MAX offers more frequent weeknight service.
• 129-Boardwalk/KCI now offers service to the airport seven days a week, including night service.
• Metro service has recently been added in the Shoal Creek, New Mark and Gashland areas in the northland.
• 142-North Oak added service to Zona Rosa and now includes Sunday service.
• 31-31st Street provides more trips between Blue Ridge Crossing/Walmart, Midtown and Penn Valley Community College.
Can’t make it to a clinic? An online Starter Kit for new riders is
available here.
April 7: Free, More Frequent Service For Zoological District Day
Posted on: Apr 03, 2013
The Metro and Zoo Offer Free, More Frequent Service for Zoological District Free Day
(Kansas City, Mo. – April 3, 2013) Metro customers can take
The Metro’s 108-Indiana to
The Kansas City Zoo this Sunday, April 7. The Metro will offer more frequent service in conjunction with the Zoological District Free Day.
108-Indiana will offer service every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., to coincide with Zoo hours. Thanks to a special partnership between the Kansas City Zoo and Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), it will be free to ride the 108 to and from the Kansas City Zoo during this time as well. The 108 will operate its regular hourly frequency and have regular fares charged during the rest of the day.
The Zoological District Free Days are a “thank you” to all residents in Jackson and Clay County Missouri for supporting the Kansas City Zoo through the Zoological District. Residents of Jackson and Clay County Missouri receive complimentary admission when showing a valid ID with their address in one of these two counties this Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The Free Days at the Zoo were very popular last year,” said KCATA General Manager Mark Huffer. “On Sunday, zoo visitors will be able to ride The Metro to the Zoo and not worry about finding a parking spot. We hope this makes for an even better Zoo experience for the residents of the Zoological District.”
For more information about Metro service, call the Regional Call Center at (816) 221-0660 weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
