Title
Presentation: Transit Services
Body
Issue/Request:
Annual presentation to discuss transit services in Lee's Summit
Key Issues:
• The City of Lee’s Summit contracts annually with KCATA and OATS to provide transit services to Lee's Summit residents.
• All CARES Act funds have been expended. Funds are programmed in the Capital Improvement Plan and authorized in the FY26 Budget and matched with the City's allocation of Federal Funding (FTA Section 5307 Funds) to continue transit operations in the transit program.
• Current transit services include on-demand and fixed route commuter express service with limited operation to/from downtown Kansas City.
• Current transit service contracts are in effect through December 2025. Both service contracts have renewal provisions that will be authorized to extend service until December 2026.
• Transit expansions for traditional fixed routes, as previously recommended by KCATA and City Staff through Transit Demand Studies, have had continuing discussion with collaboration of adjacent impacted and potentially participating agencies. Funding these new routes remains a significant barrier to implementation with no funding plan to proceed at this time.
• Commuter fixed routes in the region have experienced a decline in ridership, resulting in several communities choosing to discontinue the service. The express route in Lee's Summit has experienced an increase in ridership demand since March 2025. The on-demand service (OATS) continues to be well utilized and has shown consistent ridership, especially by our seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Background:
This presentation intends to generate awareness regarding existing transit services provided by the City of Lee's Summit, highlight those operations, describe ridership experience and demand, outline funding, and summarize the prior discussions in consideration of future transit contracts and expansion. Transit supports transportation alternatives, Livable Streets Policy and the Ignite! Strategic Plan.
Although transit is a priority, the lack of identified funds and/or demand to support and sustain any new or expanded transit service(s) has previously deferred any direction to propose such new or expanded transit service(s).
Presenter
Susan Barry, City Traffic Engineer