Zoo Free Day on Dec. 30

Posted on: Dec 26, 2013

METRO AND ZOO OFFER FREE SERVICE FOR ZOOLOGICAL DISTRICT FREE DAY ON MONDAY

(Kansas City, Mo. – Dec. 27, 2013) Metro customers can take The Metro’s 108-Indiana to the Kansas City Zoo this Monday, Dec. 30. The Metro will offer free, frequent service in conjunction with the Zoological District Free Day. 

108-Indiana will offer service during the Zoo’s regular hours, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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 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 counties for supporting the Kansas City Zoo through the Zoological District. Residents of Jackson and Clay County receive complimentary admission when showing a valid ID with their address in one of these two counties this Monday. 

“The Free Days at the Zoo have been very popular,” said KCATA General Manager Mark Huffer. “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.

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Winter Weather Tips

Posted on: Dec 20, 2013

Customers can be prepared and stay informed on the status of Metro buses when winter weather hits.

Customers can also track their buses using our live bus-tracking tool, WebWatch, at [url=http://www.kcata.org/maps_schedules/webwatch/]http://www.kcata.org/maps_schedules/webwatch/[/url]. A mobile-friendly bus tracker is available at [url=http://itsab.us/tracker]http://itsab.us/tracker[/url].

Metro bus customers can contact the Regional Call Center at (816) 221-0660. Regular hours for the Call Center are from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. Details of the emergency snow reroute plan are available online.

Travel Tips for Metro Customers 

Transit Expands in KCK with Larger Buses for 101-State Ave. Connex

Posted on: Dec 20, 2013

(Kansas City, Mo. – Dec. 20, 2013) Transit riders on The Metro’s 101-State Ave. Connex will see a welcome improvement to the route in 2014. The popular Kansas City, Ks., route will be upgraded to large buses seven days a week effective Sunday, Jan. 5. 

Route 101 has experienced growth over the past several years, and improved on-street passenger amenities were recently put in place. In 2013, weekday ridership has increased 10 percent over last year, with a daily average of more than 2,000 riders on the route. The route serves downtown Kansas City, Mo., downtown Kansas City, Ks., Minnesota and State Avenues, KCK Community College, and Village West. The upgrade affects Sunday and weekday service; a large bus is currently provided on Saturdays. 

The decision to upgrade the service was made yesterday by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Ks.  The upgrade will be funded by a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant from the United States Department of Transportation. The grant pays for 80% of the $230,000 annual cost of the upgrade, and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Ks. will provide the local matching funds. 

“The 101 route has been at capacity for some time,” said Director of Communications Cindy Baker. “ The Unified Government recognizes this and is making much-needed investments in public transit. We know customers are going to respond positively, and we expect ridership to grow even more next year.”

Other Recent Improvements in Kansas City, Ks.

KCATA and UG upgraded the passenger facilities for 101-State Ave. Connex earlier this year. They opened the Downtown KCK MetroCenter at 7th & Minnesota and the Midtown KCK MetroCenter at 47th & State. Both feature real-time bus arrival information for Metro routes, passenger shelters, benches, landscaping, and improved pedestrian connections. In addition, greatly improved passenger amenities are available at several stops along The Metro’s 101 Connex route. 

The Downtown KCK MetroCenter includes the historic, restored Winkler Clock, a local landmark for nearly 100 years. The MetroCenter at 47th & State Ave. (Indian Springs) also includes an 11,000 square foot building which houses Kansas City, Ks., Police Department’s Midtown Patrol Division, providing 24-7 police presence, the Area Agency on Aging’s mobility management services, and a community for a broad range of transit and community activities. Eight transit routes make connections at the Downtown KCK MetroCenter, and seven transit routes connect at the Midtown KCK MetroCenter.