The future of Kansas City’s zero-fare bus program is at a crossroads.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) instituted the program in 2020, which allows passengers to ride buses within the city limits for free. Federal COVID-19 relief dollars have been covering most of the cost of the zero-fare initiative; however, those funds are set to be exhausted by 2025.
KC resident support for KCATA is popular, with 73% of voters voting in April 2023 to renew a ⅜-cent tax for supportive funding for KCATA. In addition, a 2023 survey conducted by the University of Missouri-Kansas City found 65% of respondents feel the free bus program has had a positive impact.
Hanna Oliver, an organizer with climate advocacy group Sunrise Movement KC and a frequent bus rider, told the KCATA Board of Commissions that it would be a shame to see fares reinstated.
“When zero fare was enacted, it was one of the first times I felt like the city and the system did something that had a direct and noticeable change in my day-to-day life,” said Oliver.
The program’s success has been praised by advocates, including Sunrise Movement KC, whose members were vocal in expressing support during a recent KCATA Board of Commissioners meeting.
A recently concluded fare study presented to the KCTA outlined the potential financial implications of reinstating bus fares. The study predicted a substantial decrease in bus ridership ranging from 17% to 33% if the fares are reinstated.
According to the study, bringing back the 2019 fare of $1.50 per ride could generate between $5.8 and $7.1 million, down from the $9 million generated by rider’s fares in 2019. In 2019, rider fares represented between 7% – 9% of the KCATA budget.
Absent COVID funding, KCATA faces the challenge of finding alternative revenue sources to sustain the zero-fare initiative.
In addition, if a fare is brought back, the KCATA study says the outdated fare collection system would need to be upgraded to newer technology at an estimated cost of between $2.5 and $6 million, plus ongoing maintenance expenses.
Frank White III, CEO of KCATA, said he didn’t have a strong feeling between keeping zero fare or reinstating fares but emphasized the need for a sustainable plan.
“This is coming, and if we want this to be sustainable – sustainable in any form or fashion – we gotta figure this out,” he said.
Public sentiment has played a crucial role in shaping the ongoing debate. Bus riders and members of the Sunrise Movement KC have actively advocated for the continuation of the zero-fare program, staging protests and providing testimonies at board meetings. Their efforts recently resulted in a delay in KCATA’s plans to proceed with fare reinstatement.
Sunrise Movement KC leaders, including Russell Gray and Joy Mart, say that the zero-fare bus program plays a vital role during health crises and job searches and emphasize the program’s positive impact on the community.
