North Kansas City considers faster buses

By Jeffrey M. Salem

What is the possibility of extending the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s Metro Area Express, or MAX bus system, north to North Kansas City?

That’s what some City Council members wanted to know during discussion of North Kansas City’s annual renewal of its service contract with the transportation authority Dec. 4.

The answer to that question relies heavily on light rail.

“They had had plans to expand it up Burlington until all the light rail discussion started occurring,” said Michael Smith, assistant city administrator, of the MAX extension. “So they put those plans on hold for the moment.”

Transportation authority service in North Kansas City includes a MetroFlex system with stops at several locations, including Armour Road and Swift Avenue and Harrah’s North Kansas City Casino & Hotel, on Riverboat Drive.

The MAX system is touted as a faster way to ride with fewer stops. It also connects riders with downtown Kansas City as far south as the Country Club Plaza. The northernmost stop is currently in the River Market near East Third Street and Grand Boulevard, just south of the Missouri River.

Councilman Jim Martino said he had talked to numerous constituents interested in expanding the service north for faster access for North Kansas City residents.

“I’d like to see that reopened and talked about because there’s been some interest in the MAX bus from people around town,” Martino said. “Looking at the way light rail is going right now, it’s going to be a long time before it gets here, and I think the MAX bus would be a pleasant alternative to the chug-a-longs that they’re using right now.”

Mayor Gene Bruns said a MAX bus extension into North Kansas City could yield enough riders that a number of bus fleets might be retired before light rail became a reality.

“I’m sure that if the MAX bus system was installed they’d go through three or four sets of buses before light rail really got to where people can worry about future budgets,” Bruns said.

A new light rail plan may not be approved by Kansas City voters until November 2008. The current transportation authority-preferred light rail route includes a line through North Kansas City’s Burlington Avenue corridor.

Smith said he would look into reopening a dialogue with transportation authority officials regarding the MAX bus extension through the Burlington corridor.

“If we were particularly interested in seeing that service at least come up to (Northeast) 32nd (Avenue) … we could always have that conversation,” Smith said.

The city was likely to approve its contract for bus service priced at $257,871, a 7.32 percent increase, mostly because of rising diesel fuel costs, Smith said.

Staff writer Jeffrey M. Salem can be reached at 389-6653 or jeffsalem@npgco.com.