KCRag Forum

Wyandotte County is taking a big step toward starting a high-tech, express bus service between downtown Kansas City and the Village West entertainment complex.

The county has about $12 million in federal stimulus money to put toward a State Avenue line that would be 30 percent faster than existing bus service.

The goal is to take riders from downtown to Village West in 42 minutes. Now it takes 58 minutes.

DaveKCMO wrote: still no operational funding. based on reardon's comments, not 100% sure they will pay for it out of the general fund while they wait for regional funding to come along. regardless, this is a much-needed project (even though it duplicates one leg of mike sanders' commuter rail plan).

The State Avenue Connex bus route is moving ahead with citizens providing comments on everything from station design and transit centers to the logo.

In June, about 60 people took part in an open house. The next public meeting focusing on 47th & State Avenue will be held late this summer.

The Kansas City Area Transit Authority and Unified Government secured federal funding to improve the Minnesota/State Avenue transit corridor. Improving State Avenue transit by upgrading it to a Metro Connex route supports the regional vision for enhanced and expanded regional transit, as described by Smart Moves, the metropolitan transportation plan.

State Avenue Connex will include new transit centers at 7th & Minnesota and at 47th & State. Both transit centers will be custom-built with improved passenger waiting areas and amenities such as real-time passenger information.

The enhanced transit project is 25% through the Preliminary Design Phase, with construction slated to begin in the spring of 2012. State Avenue Connex will be complete in 2013.

Other State Avenue corridor Connex stop improvements include bus passenger shelters and benches; bus stop platforms; landscaping and environmentally friendly features; and improved pedestrian connections.

GRID wrote: so it's not a max line anymore?  don't tell me it's a downgrade from max.  yikes if so.

Attend the second open house for the State Avenue Connex Transit Improvement Project and learn about the exciting transit improvements being made.

Where: Unified Government Neighborhood Resource Center (4601 State Avenue, Suite 84) in Kansas City, KS. The center is located in the lower level of Indian Springs Mall. Access is available from the southeast entrance.  (Route information to the open house)

When: 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The meeting will allow area residents, businesses and commuters to review project exhibits and provide comment. KCATA and UGT staff, along with the consultant design team, will be on hand to answer questions and discuss details. Displays will provide information about the overall design of the corridor plus specific plans for two new MetroCenters: Midtown KCK (47th and State Ave.) and Downtown KCK (7th and Minnesota Ave.). Both transit centers will be custom-built with improved passenger waiting areas and amenities, such as kiosks that provide real-time passenger information. Other State Avenue | KCK Connex stop improvements include bus passenger shelters and benches, bus stop platforms, landscaping, environmentally friendly features and improved pedestrian connections.