Construction Begins In Downtown KCK On New Transit Center

Posted on: Jul 12, 2012

(Kansas City, Mo. – July 12, 2012) The Unified Government of Kansas City, Ks./Wyandotte County, (UG) and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will break ground on the Downtown KCK MetroCenter at 7th & Minnesota on Friday, July 20, at 10 a.m. (Rescheduled due to rain.) This section of downtown Kansas City, Ks., will get a makeover during the next several months. The new transit center will feature improved customer waiting areas, as well as real-time passenger information. This is part of the transit upgrade coming to Kansas City, Ks., in the summer of 2013. The 101-Minnesota/State Ave. route will become the State Avenue/KCK Connex, featuring two new transit centers, passenger shelters and benches, added bus stop platforms, landscaping, and improved pedestrian connections. “The groundbreaking event marks the beginning of a new era for public transportation in our county since the inception of The Bus in the 1970’s,” Mayor Joe Reardon says. “This is another example where we’re using state of the art technology and transportation to connect residents with job opportunities while improving the infrastructure of our downtown at the same time.” The new Connex will begin at the 10th & Main MetroCenter in downtown Kansas City, Mo., travel through downtown Kansas City, Ks., serving the new transit center at 7th & Minnesota, and west along Minnesota and State Ave. to Village West. The Downtown KCK MetroCenter will serve seven transit routes, and it is expected that more than half of all riders in Kansas City, Ks., will travel to the center. The total ridership for all Metro and Unified Government bus routes is projected to surpass 1.3 million riders this year. This represents a 15 percent increase over 2010. “More and more people are figuring out that transit is an excellent way to save money and go green,” said KCATA General Manager Mark Huffer. “We are excited to partner with the Unified Government to bring better facilities and a better passenger experience to our transit customers in Kansas City, Ks.” State Avenue Connex improvements are funded through a $10.5 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Additional funds are provided by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Livability grants and the Unified Government, for a total project investment of $13 million. Street and sidewalk improvements are expected to be complete in January 2013, with full transit center completion in June 2013. Ed Linnebur, Downtown Shareholders executive director, said a turtle mascot has been selected to keep those in the area up to date on the steady progress of the construction on the Connex transit line. “The turtle – who our downtown community named ‘Wayne Dotte’ in the Name the Turtle Campaign – is a symbol of persistence and dependability,” said Linnebur. “The turtle also ties in with the symbol of the Wyandotte Nation. It’s also from the ‘Tortoise and the Hare,’ slow and steady progress is what gets you through to win. We’re out for the win, so we think backing the turtle is the right way to go.” Signs around the construction area will feature Wayne Dotte with updates on construction progress on the transit center and other improvements.

Metro and MAX Ready To Get All-Star Fans Around Town

Posted on: Jul 03, 2012

Stadium Express Passes Available In Advance Or At Time Of Travel

Updated July 7, 2012 (Kansas City, Mo. – July 3, 2012) Baseball fans will be able to get to the big events at Kauffman Stadium, and all around town on MAX and The Metro.

STADIUM EXPRESS

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will offer fast and easy service to the All-Star Game and other All-Star Summer events at Kauffman Stadium on July 8, 9 and 10. Stadium Express shuttles will travel between downtown Kansas City, Mo., and Kauffman Stadium. From July 8-10, customers may purchase a Metro Stadium Express One-Day Pass, available at the Convention and Visitor’s Association booth located at 13th & Central. Fans may also pay a $15 cash fare at the Stadium Express passenger stops. A round-trip Stadium Express shuttle ticket costs $15. Pre-purchased shuttle tickets will also be good on all regular Metro and MAX service on the same day, so fans can travel to the Plaza, Crown Center, 18th & Vine and other Kansas City attractions. The Stadium Express will have three downtown passenger stops: 3rd & Grand near City Market (limited free parking is available at this location), 12th St. between Wyandotte and Central (on the north side of Barney Allis Plaza), and the 10th & Main MetroCenter. Start of service will coincide with gate times at Kauffman Stadium. Buses will leave these three stops every 15 minutes, with the last bus leaving at the event time. “We are thrilled to welcome fans to Kansas City and to The Metro," KCATA Marketing Director Cindy Baker said. “By riding transit, visitors will be able to take in all that the city has to offer, from dining to museums to shopping, without the hassle of driving.”

MAX AND METRO SERVICE

Main Street MAX (maps and schedule) will offer frequent service between downtown, Fan Fest at the Convention Center, and The Plaza, as well as Crown Center, City Market, Westport and Midtown. On the weekends, and after the events at Kauffman, the Main Street MAX Orange Line will add extra service to accommodate fans. During the weekdays, Main St. MAX will offer service every 10 minutes between downtown and the Plaza. On Saturday and Sunday, MAX will provide service between downtown and the Plaza every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to noon, every 10 minutes from noon to 6:30 p.m., and every 15 minutes from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The Convention Center stop is located at 13th & Wyandotte. 108-Indiana (maps and schedule) will offer service from downtown to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and other attractions in 18th & Vine Jazz District. Friday through Tuesday, from noon to 6 p.m., 108 will offer service between downtown and the Jazz District every 15 minutes. Extra service will extend to 7:30 p.m. for special events on Sunday. 108’s closest stop to the Convention Center is at 12th & Wyandotte. 12-12th Street (maps and schedule) will travel between the parking available at Kemper Arena, 16th & Genessee, and the Convention Center, 12th & Wyandotte. Customers returning to the Kemper Arena parking area can catch route 12 on 11th Street at Wyandotte. Friday through Tuesday, 12 will offer service between Kemper Arena and the Convention Center every 15 minutes throughout the day.

FARES AND INFORMATION

One way fare on regular MAX and Metro service is $1.50. Children 5 and under ride free on regular service. A Three-Day visitor pass costs $10 and will be available for purchase at the Fan Fest booth. Metro ambassadors will also be on hand with bus schedules and other transit information. A one-day pass can be purchased on the bus for $3. Please alert the bus driver before inserting $3 into the fare box. The Stadium Express pass is required to travel on the Stadium Express on July 8, 9, or 10. For more information about MAX and Metro service, call the Regional Call Center at (816) 221-0660 weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., or Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information about routes and fares is also available at [url=http://www.kcata.org]http://www.kcata.org[/url]. For more information about tourist destinations in Kansas City, see Visiting Kansas City. To learn more about riding The Metro and MAX, see our How To Ride Videos.