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.
· Funds are programmed in the Capital Improvement Plan and authorized in the FY27 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 2026. The decision was made to change the contract renewals to match the federal fiscal year which runs from October to September. The current KCATA contract will be superseded with a new contract effective October 1, 2026, and concluding September 30, 2027, with two renewals. The current OATS contract will be amended by Amendment No. 3, beginning October 1, 2026, and concluding September 30, 2027, with additional one-year renewals with agreement of both parties. Both contracts allow for nominal increases to service costs to account for inflation.
· Transit expansions for traditional fixed routes remains a future endeavor. 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 seen a consistent number of riders utilizing the service. 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 Summ...
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