KCRag Forum

at today's KCATA board meeting, a pilot project was presented that would extend the service hours for several popular bus routes until 2am on the weekends to coordinate with the streetcar that is already planned to run that late. routes would be shortened to require a transfer to the free streetcar at union station. depending on how frequent the runs are, this could cost as little as $100,000 (since some runs already exist as 'deadhead' when headed back to the bus barn w/o passengers).

both MAX routes were listed, as well as #47-broadway, as strong candidates. they will also be studying #101-state and #129-KCI as well.

Have they figured out when they are going to straighten out the Main St. Max yet? or move it to grand through DT?

Would the route shortening only occur after normal operational hours?

chingon wrote:Would the route shortening only occur after normal operational hours?

that's my impression, yes.

kboish wrote:Have they figured out when they are going to straighten out the Main St. Max yet? or move it to grand through DT?

in due time.

late night service begins may 13, one week after streetcar opening.

DaveKCMO wrote:late night service begins may 13, one week after streetcar opening.

has anyone used this yet? main street MAX only, for now. troost and broadway start in july.

I'll use it when the Troost MAX starts running late.

We typically take MAX down for events, eating out and City Market weekend shopping from 64111 (used to for work but now work from home). But don't tend to stay til after Midnight so no go yet.

Is the 2AM expansion marketed at all? Like with announcements on the MAX bus during rush hour? I'd bet many existing MAX riders don't even know.

earthling wrote:Is the 2AM expansion marketed at all? Like with announcements on the MAX bus during rush hour? I'd bet many existing MAX riders don't even know.

just fired off an email. thanks for the idea!

broadway and troost 2am service begins july 13!

Any data on Main Max late night ridership? That's well past my bedtime so I have no anecdotal data.

I don't know if they are marketing it at all outside posting on their own website. They also need to attract new riders using this as a tool, not just existing riders.

Seems like a good tool would be the advertising boards outside (THIS BUS NOW RUNS UNTIL 2AM ON WEEKENDS YO)

Eon Blue wrote:Any data on Main Max late night ridership? That's well past my bedtime so I have no anecdotal data.

KCATA mentioned today it exceeds their projections, but the numbers are relatively low (i think they said 12?). there aren't that many added runs, perhaps 3 total between midnight and 2am because the evening headway was already 30m.

late night service on the 47 ends jan. 1 due to low ridership.

How's the Troost late night service doing? It seems popular from my view but it would be nice to confirm that with data.

None of them are doing that well, I'm told, which is typical for late night ridership. Headways are only 30 minutes, which is probably part of the problem (as is it being weekends only).

Lack of advertising maybe too. Announcements on those lines during rush hour that there are extended weekend hours might help.

The 30 minute headways maybe more of an issue though. I could take MAX late night but have instead used Uber last couple times as we didn't want to wait.

I've seen people give up on the train with 15 minute waits. 30 minutes may make financial sense but not operational.