Latest news with #KansasCityAreaTransportationAuthority
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City Council approves $2.5 billion budget for 2025-26
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Thursday, the Kansas City Council approved the $2.5 billion fiscal year 2025-26 city budget. City leaders note the budget prioritizes housing and community development, public safety, public health, and infrastructure improvements while strengthening the city's fund balance to maintain Kansas City's strong economic standing and credit rating. Shawnee man identified in fatal skiing accident in Colorado The budget allocates $341.4 million toward infrastructure and accessibility—a $17.5 million increase from last year, according to the city. This includes: $71 million for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), with an additional $6.8 million from a budget amendment to support KCATA and $3 million for Vision Zero safety initiatives $2.6 million for operation and maintenance of the Streetcar and its expansion Enhanced funding for snow removal and sidewalk improvements $5 million for Blue Ridge Streetscape and Southwest Boulevard projects Lucas is also sponsoring an ordinance to ensure the maintenance of KCATA's services. During a Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee meeting earlier this week, city council members complained that the KCATA hasn't been transparent with them on what routes they're planning to cut or what their deficit was. 'This $2.5 billion budget reflects our values as a community and addresses the priorities we've heard directly from our residents. By increasing our investment in housing to over $314 million, dedicating nearly $700 million to public safety, and advancing transformative infrastructure projects, we're not just maintaining services—we're enhancing them. This budget delivers on our promises to make Kansas City more accessible, more affordable, and more equitable for everyone who calls it home,' Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a news release Thursday. The city said housing remains a top priority with $314.5 million allocated to support initiatives across the city, a $13.2 million increase from the previous year. This funding will support: Emergency rental assistance programs Expanded emergency shelter services The ZeroKC initiative to end homelessness World Cup Legacy projects The Housing Trust Fund Additionally, $1 million will be direction toward implementing the city's small business strategic plan to prepare Kansas City to fully capitalize on hosting the 2026 World Cup, according to the city. Nearly $700 million will go towards public safety, an increase of over $70 million from the previous year, according to the city, with over $340 million for the Kansas City Police Department and over $320 million for the Kansas City Fire Department. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City could give KCATA another $6.8 million after proposed bus route cuts
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The city council's considering giving another $6.8 million to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). The move comes as the KCATA proposes bus route cuts. They're also considering eliminating most weekend services for the remaining routes. Woman charged with murder, man arrested in connection to KC sports reporter death During Tuesday's Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee meeting, city council members complained that the KCATA hasn't been transparent with them on what routes they're planning to cut or what their deficit was. Tuesday, City Councilmember Crispin Rea submitted an amendment that would redirect money that was supposed to go to LED light upgrades to go back to the KCATA. Rea's proposing using reserve money to go to the authority too. He says both sources are from the public mass transit tax. 'That we then also use that money to go to make sure we are not losing bus routes,' Rea said in an interview with FOX4 Tuesday. 'That is funding that is generally intended to be used in emergency situations. When we're on the brink of having to cut bus routes, I can't think of a more appropriate use in that situation.' The KCATA wouldn't comment on Rea's new proposal. Thursday, riders found out they're looking to cut 13 of the city's 29 bus routes, impacting more than 6,800 daily riders. That evening, authority leaders said they were suffering from rising costs and the loss of COVID-19 relief dollars. Tuesday, Councilman Kevin O'Neill said he thought that the KCATA had a $22 million deficit. As the conversation continued, Mayor Quinton Lucas spoke about five minutes later. 'We did ask all those questions two weeks ago when we had the ATA Director in front of us,' Mayor Lucas said to the other committee members. 'We were not given publicly the list of routes, and then, a week later, we see them with the rest of the public about kind of everywhere, that everything purportedly will be cut.' Two seriously injured after car crashes into Louisburg, Kansas hair salon Rea said he doesn't know what the KCATA's budget gap is. He says he believes it's closer to $12 million than the KCATA's publicly stated report that it's closer to $30 million. The KCATA wouldn't comment on that part of Tuesday's story either. Mayor Lucas and the rest of the city council will vote on the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year budget Thursday at 2 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City transit meetings held amid potential route cuts
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority will discuss possible service changes during a meeting Thursday. Service reductions may be necessary due to growing expenses and a lack of funding. KCUR first reported about the possible cuts and financial challenges on Wednesday, citing documents it obtained. Transit leaders discuss World Cup transportation plans According to the president of KCATA, despite financial difficulties, the organization's mission is still to support and organize transportation for regular bus passengers. The KCATA operates as many as 78 bus routes in seven counties on both sides of the state line. However, 150 union workers and up to 15 of those routes might be included in some upcoming budget cuts. The KCATA president claims that the organization is experiencing financial difficulties during this transitional period. The proposed service cuts that will be discussed at their public meetings are the consequence of rising public transportation costs in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic and the exhaustion of federal pandemic insurance. Local nonprofit still waiting for answers on federal grant money The Cares Act provided funding for the few years that bus service was free for passengers, but that funding is beginning to run out. The in-person meeting is Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the East Village Transit Center. If you can't make the in-person meeting, there is a virtual meeting on Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Kansas City man charged with stealing city bus, assaulting officer: Prosecutor
A Kansas City man is facing three felony charges in Jackson County court after being accused of stealing a city bus Sunday and assaulting a police officer in the process. Shahid R. Pratt, 49, was charged Monday with second-degree assault, stealing a motor vehicle, and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. Pratt allegedly stole the bus by forcing open the drivers' window of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority bus as it sat at a stop near 75th Street and Prospect Avenue, according to court documents. After climbing through the window, he locked the bus from the inside and drove away on Prospect, security footage from inside the bus shows. No one else was inside the bus at the time, according to court documents. The bus' emergency brake system kicked in around 77th and Prospect, where the Kansas City Police Department responded to the alleged theft around 6:20 a.m. Sunday, court documents read. Responding officers allegedly told Pratt to leave the bus multiple times before trying to unlock the doors from the outside. Pratt then allegedly reached through the window and hit one of the officers on the arm with a metal bar, before banging around the inside of the bus with the bar, according to court records. Officers used a Taser and pepper spray on Pratt while arresting him, according to court documents. Pratt has previously been charged in Missouri with eleven felonies including assault, battery, aggravated robbery, attempted drug trafficking and illegal weapon possession, according to court records. He was most recently charged with trespassing on Feb. 24. Pratt is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond.
