Kansas City Area Transportation Authority bus riders will start paying a $2 fare in June. While some riders say they're comfortable with the change, others worry about the impact on their budgets.

Kansas City

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has announced that bus fares will return by June 1, ending a period of free rides that began during the pandemic. The fare will be set at $2, lower than the $2.50 charged in 2019, as the authority seeks to generate approximately $10 million in revenue after losing city funding.

KCATA officials stated that subsidies for qualified riders, including veterans and low-income individuals, will be reinstated, with a new low-income fare program under consideration. While some passengers are accepting of the change, others expressed concern about the financial impact, especially for those on fixed incomes.

KCATA says bus fares return this summer after years of free bus rides

If you take the bus in Kansas City, expect to pay some at least a fair later this year. Ride Casey voted last night to reinstate its $2 bus fare by June 1st. Well, this will impact thousands of passengers who've been used to free rides for years now. Case HP 41's Lenita Brooks listens to the voices of riders and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority over how this change will impact budgets this year. Casey ATA riders will begin paying a $2 bus fare in June, while some passengers we spoke to say they are OK with the change. Others say it will have a noticeable impact on their budgets. More than 12 million people ride Casey ATA a year. Since the pandemic, those rides have been free, but soon that will change. I really don't care for real. To be honest, it's been free for a long time so you can't complain. Tyler means Casey ATA's chief mobility and strategy officer says the decision to increase the fare from $2.50 in 2019 to $2 is to help the authority reach its revenue goals. Now that it no longer receives funding through the city, we knew that we wanted to bring in some around $10 million. Previously in 2019 we brought about $8.8 million through the fare box for some riders. The 50 cent difference is one they'll feel. Yeah, it's really gonna affect my pockets now and I don't have much. It makes it hard when you get your Social Security. You gotta pay 30 and $60 a month. $60 a month for the bus. Everybody makes it hard. Another 3040 bucks a month on bus rides. It's going to kill us means, says like in previous years, they are looking to bring back a number of subsidies for qualified individuals based on income, organizations and a number of other factors. What we want to do is bring all those back. We're bringing back the veterans program as well. We also want to start looking for the first time at a low income fare program that it will even reduce the fare offer for free. Those rates have not been set yet. Some riders believe the fares return will make for a smoother ride. When we start paying is going to be like a better crowd on the bus, not the anything against the homeless people. But you know, sometimes just get hectic on the bus, so I feel like bringing the fares back. Don't make the buses a little safer in Kansas City. Lenita Brooks KSHB 41 news. Lenita, thanks for putting up a QR code on your screen right now. Contact her. Lenita covers Kansas City and crime solutions. You can also send her an email directly at lenita.brookskshp.com.

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