The City of Independence currently contracts with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) to provide fixed route service between the Transit Center and downtown Kansas City as well as the required complementary paratransit within the City limits of Independence and between Independence and Kansas City and intra-city senior transit services. Additionally, KCATA will continue to provide transit management services including: monitoring First Transit’s compliance with FTA requirements, contractor performance, call center services, route information and trip planning to customers, and investigating and responding to customer complaints and inquiries.
This annual contract was approved by the KCATA Board on July 22, 2020. The contract will continue transit management, inter-city bus service and inter and intra-city paratransit and senior transit services through June 30, 2021 at the same service level.
Funding for this year’s contract will come from several sources including CARES Act, CDBG and general fund. On May 27, 2020, the KCATA Board approved the regional sub-allocation for CARES Act funding to support regional transit operations. The purpose of the CARES funding is to supplement lost revenues including sales tax, passenger fares and local support along with operating and capital expenses, including additional expenses specifically related to COVID-19, for transit agencies throughout the region. As part of this funding allocation, the City will receive $1.614 million of CARES Act funding for our transit services (i.e., intra-city fixed route, inter-city fixed route, and paratransit).
Approximately $671,000 of the $1.614 million CARES funds will be used to cover the expenses for the services provided by KCATA. (Note: The balance of the CARES funds will be used for our intra-city fixed route service operated by First Transit.) In addition, the City allocated $125,000 of CDBG funds to assist in maintaining transit services for our low and moderate income passengers. The remaining $125,260 of expenses is to be covered by the general fund.