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Changes to RideKC Public Transit in Independence

Independence Public Transit Route Changes

White sedan with a large purple logo over its side doors reading "IRIS"

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the City of Independence will eliminate several RideKC routes due to budget limitations. In place of the fixed-route service, the city will offer IRIS On-Demand transit, Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  See "What is IRIS?" below for more details.

Six routes operated by Transdev (a.k.a., First Transit) will stop operating on Dec. 31, 2024. See "What bus routes are being eliminated?" below for details. The bus routes are operated roughly 16,000 hours annually. Estimates put rides offered between 220,000 to 230,000 annually; there is no data to count how many of those are individual riders versus the same riders utilizing the lines multiple times. Changes to RideKC Freedom (ADA paratransit and Non-ADA demand response) fares in Independence will also occur effective Jan. 1.

RideKC Freedom (ADA paratransit and Non-ADA demand response) in Independence will still be available. See "What about Paratransit?" below for details.

The City of Independence will hold two meetings about this change for customers and the general public to learn more about these changes and to provide input.  Those details are in the below drop-down menu "How can I learn more?"

IRIS is an on-demand ride-share program in partnership with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, zTrip, and RideCo. 

It is a flexible, user-friendly option.  IRIS users can book rides for a time they choose by phone, in an app, or on a website.  

As staff noted in the Oct. 14th Study Session: "Some users of the fixed route have feared during the summer months going grocery shopping for ice cream, because the ice cream will be melted by the time they get home.  With IRIS, that would remove that from the equation."

 

 

White sedan with a large purple logo over its side doors reading "IRIS"



From the IRIS website by RideKC: 

What is IRIS? 
IRIS is an app-driven premium service. The service utilizes an on-demand dynamic routing model which picks up and drops off riders in locations within one quarter mile of their request. The service gets residents within a quarter mile of their destination for a minimal fee within a defined zone. Each service zone has designated transit transfer hub. This project is funded and led by the City of Kansas City and is contracting with KCATA. The Transportation Authority manages the on-demand service.

From the IRIS Rider Guide website: 

How to book a ride?

  • Mobile App: Download the IRIS app from RideCo in the Google Play store or the App Store. Anyone within the service area boundaries can summon a ride using the mobile app.  Simply enter in your destination address.  After you’re done booking you’ll see the trip displayed in your upcoming trip list. The app will provide a window during which you’ll be picked up for your trip. You can also use the app to cancel a future ride.  Keep the app open to stay informed on your ride status. Customers using the app will get a notification when their ride is arriving at their pickup location. In addition, you have the option to get updates about your ride’s location via the IRIS app and sms text notifications.
  • Phone: 816-205-8221
  • Web: https://book.iris.rideco.com/
  • Your Ride: IRIS vehicles may be a cab or an IRIS-only vehicle. Many IRIS vehicles will have distinctive coloring and graphics as seen here. Ztrip cabs serving IRIS customers will have an IRIS or RideKC logo on the side of the vehicle near the back.
  • Here's a video on how to book a ride: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEtOWjT9iyo
     

Due to budget limitations, the 301 Green, 302 Blue, 303 Purple, 304 Yellow, 305 Orange and 306 Red routes operated by Transdev (a.k.a., First Transit) will stop operating on Dec. 31, 2024.

Route 301 (in green) runs east and south from the intersection of Truman and Noland to roughly Centerpointe Medical Center along 23rd, Lee's Summit Road, and 39th Street.  

Route 302 (in blue) runs west and south from the Independence Transit Center at the intersection of Truman and Noland Road to Blue Ridge Crossing and onto Hy-Vee at 40 Highway and Noland Road via Crysler, then Sterling, then 40 Highway.  

Route 303 (in purple) runs south from the Independence Transit Center at the intersection of Truman and Noland Road to Hy-Vee at 40 Highway and Noland Road.

Route 304 (in yellow) runs north from the Independence Transit Center at the intersection of Truman and Noland Road to Spring and 24 Highway, then east to Osage along 24 Highway.

Route 305 (in orange) runs north and east from the Independence Transit Center at the intersection of Truman and Noland Road along 24 Highway and includes  to the Fairmount Community Center and Winner Road and Brookside.

Route 306 (in red) runs east and south from the Independence Transit Center at the intersection of Truman and Noland Road to Centerpointe Medical Center, via Truman Road, Lee's Summit Road, Mo-78 to MCC- Blue River, and then down to Centerpointe Medical via Jackson Road.

Click here to see these routes mapped on the KCATA website.

 

A map of the KCATA transit routes that will be eliminated in the City of Independence beginning Jan. 1 2025. Route 301 runs east and south from the intersection of Truman and Noland to roughly Centerpointe Medical Center along 23rd, Lee's Summit Road, and 39th Street. Route 302 runs west and south from the intersection of Truman and Noland Road to Crysler, then Sterling, then 40 Highway.

The City of Independence has had bus service since the 1970's.  Since 2008, the routes have gradually been reduced.

In the Monday, October 14, 2024 Study Session, City staff shared that in 2020, the cost per mile was increasing roughly 10% from 2017 to 2020.  Fare revenues decreased by 24% during that time.  In 2023, the cost grew from 2019's $3.32 per mile to $3.66 per mile.

At the onset of COVID, a large infusion of federal funds came to public transportation.  For the City of Independence, it came to the tune of almost $5.2 million over four years.  Those funds have been expended as of 2024.

In 2023, KCATA conducted a service analysis, and suggested most of its public transit services could be met by IRIS, a rideshare program. In May and June 2024, TransDev submitted a Request for Proposal; it proposed bus service for a cost that ranged from $2 million to $2.5 million, with a 40-70% reduction in service.  

To keep the 24 Route, Fixed Route, and Paratransit with IRIS, it would cost a total of $4.2 million, with $3.3 million coming out of the City's general funds. The current budget for public transit is $1.3 million.

Watch the presentation here, it starts around minute 18.  Click here to see the presentation slides.

The City of Independence chose to keep its 24 Route with citywide paratransit and introduce IRIS on demand service, because it falls within the budget amounts.

It will continue to operate as it does today, taking riders along 24 Highway west into downtown Kansas City's East Village Transit Center near 12th and Charlotte.

Map showing a blue line going from the intersection of Truman and Noland in Independence west along 24 Highway to Charlotte and 12th in downtown Kansas City.

Independence residents will continue to have paratransit service with RideKC Freedom within the boundaries of Independence. The service hours for RideKC Freedom in Independence will not change. 

The fare for RideKC Freedom in Independence services will be $3 per one-way trip. For trips outside Independence, customers will need to enter an eligible ADA zone. 

Customers can still use Freedom On-Demand as an option to travel between Independence and KCMO. The fare for Freedom On-Demand remains $5 for the first 5 miles and $2 per additional mile.

The City of Independence will host two public meetings about this public transit change on Wednesday, Nov. 6.  They will both be at City Hall, which is located across the street from the Transit Center at Truman Rd. & Noland Rd.

From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Independence City Hall, 111 E Maple, Conference Room D. This is the lower level of City Hall, across the hall from the Council Chambers.

From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Independence City Hall, 111 E Maple, Conference Room D. This is the lower level of City Hall, across the hall from the Council Chambers.

You may also submit comments and questions by email at transit@indepmo.org. 

Comments can also be mailed to the Community Development Department, 111 E Maple, Independence, Missouri 64050