KCATA awarded KDOT technology grant

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has been awarded a $59,000 innovation and technology grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation to integrate micro transit into Transit, RideKC’s official app for bi-state regional transit.

Based on nearly two years of micro transit operations, there is evidence that customers are transferring between micro transit and fixed-route services. Currently, two micro transit zones on the Kansas side – one in Johnson County and one in Wyandotte County – are not yet integrated in the Transit app. This grant from KDOT will enable riders to use the app to plan multimodal trips that combine micro transit with fixed-route service, beginning in mid-2021. Transit is RideKC’s official app to plan trips and track the location of buses throughout the Kansas City region.

“Micro transit ridership is growing rapidly on the Kansas side of the metro with financial commitments from local governments,” said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president and CEO. “Currently users in Johnson and Wyandotte counties must toggle between two separate smartphone apps to integrate their micro transit trips with fixed-route transit service. This integration will improve access to jobs, health care, education and equitable opportunities.”

“This micro transit integration is going to have a macro impact,” said David Block-Schachter, chief business officer at Transit. “By adding micro transit to its official app with fixed-route, RideKC will help its customers make the most out of both services. We’re excited to kick off work with TransLoc and bring RideKC riders an easy way to integrate micro transit into their commutes.”

KDOT funded the 2020 expansion of micro transit in Johnson County. Both Wyandotte and Johnson counties are looking at possible expansion beyond the current micro transit zones.

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has identified micro transit as a way to meet the needs of their members and increase access to jobs.