Kansas City Area Transportation Authority Confronts Obsolescence?!?

Here's the question that local leaders throughout the metro are asking behind the scenes: 

WHY PAY BIG BUCKS TO KCATA WHEN TECH OPTIONS PROVIDE MORE COST EFFECTIVE & EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS?!?!?

Remember . . .

The main beef with the KCATA from our perspective is that politicos have started to use it as a piggy bank for development projects and the service continues to stagnate.

This note is mostly review but reminds us that the issue persists . . . Moreover . . .

Whilst the ATA does operate IRIS ride-share programs . . . We can easily envision a future when tech can facilitate even better options for low-income communities and/or confront residents with even more danger than a bus ride  . . . Reality check . . . We're really only one phone-app away from metro transit chaos and it's an option that most locals have FAILED to imagine.

Meanwhile . . . Here's a preview of the new year . . . 

"On Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, the City of Independence will switch its public transportation offerings from public buses to private rides using the IRIS rideshare program.

"Instead of catching scheduled routes, residents can schedule an IRIS rideshare vehicle to pick them up and drop them off at their requested location.

"According to the city, budget restraints forced the change. Independence’s annual budget for public transportation is $1.3M, but the estimated cost to continue servicing full bus routes for 2025 was reportedly $4.2M, with $3.3M coming from general funds."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

KCTV5 -- Starting January 1: Independence switching from public buses to on-demand IRIS program

Developing . . .