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 that includes 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, 2022 at the same service level.
Funding for this year’s contract will come from several sources including remaining CARES Act funds, CDBG, FTA 5307 funds, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) funds, Transit American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds and general fund.
In May 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 received $1.617 million of CARES Act funding for our transit services (i.e., intra-city fixed route, inter-city fixed route, and paratransit). Not all of the CARES Act funds allocated to the City was spent in fiscal year 2020-21; approximately $80,000 remains. The remaining funds will be spent by December 2022.
In addition, the City allocated $607,507 of CDBG-CV funds to assist in maintaining transit services for our low- and moderate-income passengers.
In March 2021, the KCATA Board approved the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) Act funding allocation for the regional transit operators. The City will be receiving slightly more than $803,000 for our transit services; these funds will be applied to transit cost through the expenditure deadline in 2024.
In May 2021, the KCATA Board approved the Transit American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding allocation for the regional transit operators. The City will be receiving slightly more than $1.7 million for our transit services; these funds will be applied to transit costs through the expenditure deadline in 2024.