RideKC Reduces Bus Service in KCMO Due to Stay-at-Home Order

Posted on: Apr 07, 2020

UPDATE 4/10:  Johnson County announces a reduction in transit service levels to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 while maintaining access to essential businesses and services for riders. 

In response to the Stay-At-Home order issued by area counties and municipalities, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) in partnership with the City of Kansas City, Mo., will reduce transit service starting Sunday, April 12, 2020. Bus routes originating in Kansas City, Mo., will run on modified service with most routes using a Saturday schedule that will end at 9 p.m. Many routes that don’t run on Saturdays will now be added to a Saturday schedule to accommodate our regional partners’ transit needs. All Sunday routes will run as normal but will now end at 9 p.m.

Other RideKC regional services will operate on the schedules below:

• Unified Government Transit in Kansas City, Kan., service will continue on a regular weekday schedule. 
• Johnson County routes will reduce transit service levels, effective April 13. 510 K-10 Connector between University of Kansas – Lawrence and Johnson County Community College will continue using a break schedule.
• Independence, Mo., transit will also operate on its regular weekday schedule. 
• The 529, 535, 550, 570 and 571 will operate a limited express route.
• RideKC Flex in Raytown and Gladstone will continue running. 

Our average daily ridership has taken a sharp decrease since the Stay-At-Home order was issued. We are experiencing higher than normal absenteeism – more than 120 operators daily.  Even with a decline in ridership and higher absenteeism we hope to keep all of our full-time Bus Operators employed during this crisis. Unfortunately, we had to lay-off about 66 part-time operators.

With the region under stay at home orders, KCATA continues to deliver a vital public service to health care workers, pharmacy employees, grocery store employees and others employed in essential jobs. 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.

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