RideKC Reduces Bus Service Due to COVID-19 Impact

Posted on: Nov 17, 2020

(Kansas City, Mo. – Nov. 17, 2020) – The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will temporarily roll back some RideKC transit service starting Monday, Nov. 23. This is due to the increasing community spread of COVID-19, which is resulting in higher than normal absenteeism among KCATA’s operator workforce.

Consistent with the Safer At Home orders and recommendations issued by area counties and municipalities, KCATA, in partnership with the city of Kansas City, Mo., recommends transit riders only make essential trips going forward, such as:

• rides for groceries
• trips for physical and mental health needs such as appointments and to pick up prescriptions
• and trips for essential jobs including hospital/medical, grocery/food service, and essential production.

“RideKC will continue to provide essential service to riders at zero fare,” said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president and CEO. “If customers must make essential trips, they can have confidence that RideKC is continuing all of the safety protocols that have been in place consistently throughout the pandemic, such as a mask requirement, rear door boarding and limiting the number of seats available.”

Transit operators are on the front line seven days a week and we’re proud of the work they are doing during this challenging time. Contact tracing indicates employee exposure is mostly due to activities and risks from outside of the workplace.

In general, most RideKC core routes operating every 15 minutes will continue at that level of service. Low frequency routes will be temporarily canceled to allow the remaining operators to focus on the core network, where the need is greatest.

For the latest schedule updates and RideKC news, please check our website and follow us on social media

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