RideKC Introduces Large Group of Modern, High-tech Buses
The RideKC fleet is getting an upgrade with 38 new buses. The new buses will provide more safety, convenience and comfort for customers.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority purchased the buses with a $8,986,350 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration and a 20 percent local match from KCATA. This award was the biggest Bus and Bus Facilities Grant KCATA has earned since 1993.
“These new buses will improve efficiency by reducing maintenance and fuel costs, while at the same time improving the reliability of transit service and providing comfort and convenience for our riders,” said President/CEO Robbie Makinen. “It is a significant investment in transit for Kansas City.”
The 38 new buses include 18 29-foot buses and 20 40-foot buses. Buses have been put on RideKC routes in groups of 10, and the last group of eight buses just hit the road.
Thanks to the replacement of KCATA’s oldest vehicles, the KCATA fleet now has WiFi on 100 percent of its buses. Customers can find the bus’s WiFi under the name RideKC. The implementation of a broadband network across the KCATA fleet opens up the opportunity for future technology upgrades.
Other features of the new buses include:
- A change to vinyl seats, that are easier to keep clean
- Fixed windows for better climate control and reduce bus noise
- A safety barrier to protect bus operators
- A compressed natural gas fuel system, resulting in significantly lower operating costs and reduced air pollution
The new buses were manufactured by Gillig and started arriving at KCATA in May. KCATA mechanics inspect the vehicles and make additional modifications that are needed.
