We Promise
Better public transportation.
Discover how KCATA is so much more than a bus company. Find out about the progress we’re making and what’s ahead as we hold ourselves accountable for providing safe, reliable public transportation and creating Transit-Oriented Communities – vital infrastructure that connects people to the things they care about most.
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Our best destination is ahead of us
Scroll to Read Frank's pledgeFrank White III
KCATA President & CEO
Working together for the long haul
Scroll to Learn more about Melissa's commitmentMelissa Bynum
Chair, KCATA Board of Commissioners
Helping people is the best part of the journey
Scroll to Find out what drives MarshaMarsha Gonzalez
KCATA Bus Operator, Badge #1
Meet the team that is moving us forward
Click to read each leader’s promise and role
Reginald Townsend
Vice Chair, KCATA Board of Commissioners+"I pledge to foster collaboration and partnerships with neighboring communities and stakeholders and to support policies that prioritize safety and the overall customer experience. I am dedicated to modernizing our transit system to help enhance connectivity and accessibility across our region - one that is a thriving and inclusive environment for all."
Reginald Townsend
Richard Jarrold
Deputy CEO+“I pledge to work with customers, the community, local governments, and our staff to listen to ideas and convert them into better community services. I will strive to lead our team to improve communications – both internally and externally – and to listen with respect to all voices.”
Richard Jarrold
Terri Barr-Moore
Chief of Staff+“As Chief of Staff, it's my job to ensure that our CEO has the resources, connections and time to serve the highest and best interests of KCATA, our staff and riders. My promise is clear and simple: I promise to do what it takes to enable our leadership to deliver the transit authority our region deserves.”
Terri Barr-Moore
Bruce Beatty
Chief Financial Officer+"I’m committed to leading the financial facets of the agency while helping our team see the whole picture. My goal is to help everyone at KCATA get the resources they need to grow our regional transit system. I’ll continue working everyday to improve the financial health of the agency and improve transparency through diligent financial planning and forecasting.”
Bruce Beatty
Chuck Ferguson
Chief Operations Officer+“I promise to make sure every bus that leaves our facility is ready for service. I’m dedicated to giving our team what they need to keep our fleet in top condition and our bus shelters clean and welcoming, as well as providing our well-trained bus operators the support they need to connect our tens of thousands of daily riders to their destinations.”
Chuck Ferguson
Tyler Means
Chief Mobility and Strategy Officer+“I’m committed to creating communities people are happy to call home. Mobility services and economic development go hand in hand. I focus on ensuring there is housing that can access transportation services, adding community goods to neighborhoods and creating an environment that is safe and enjoyable for all.”
Tyler Means
Cindy Baker
Senior Director, Marketing, Communications, Customer Service+“I pledge to elevate the value of public transportation among our many stakeholders. I will work to ensure that people who rely on public transit are at the heart of our decision-making, and that our communication is timely, clear and accurate. I also commit to building community support for transit.”
Cindy Baker
Bryan Beck
Senior Director, IT+“I promise to use the unique technology resources available to KCATA to enhance the public transit experience throughout the KC Region. I pledge to work with our public and private partners to promote innovation and teamwork as we work together to serve the communities that we love.”
Bryan Beck
June Berry
Senior Director, Human Resources+“I’m committed to help provide our employees with a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and growth. I commit to having a diverse workforce, and I promise to have a listening ear for all employees so that they know they matter. My focus is making KCATA an employer of choice.”
June Berry
Don Bowlin
Senior Director, Transportation+“I pledge to work to restore the public's trust in our transit services. This commitment is bigger than just my word or efforts. It takes a team effort. Our team is up to the task and is working to improve reliability, on-time performance, and the safety of our passengers and bus operators.”
Don Bowlin
Marla Leeper
Senior Director, Fleet Maintenance+“I promise to make the safety of our passengers and employees a top priority. I’m committed to ensuring every vehicle meets all safety standards and that customers feel safe and comfortable while waiting for or riding the bus. Additionally, I pledge to be environmentally responsible and cost-effective.”
Marla Leeper
Michael Riley
Director of Development+“I pledge to work with the community and other stakeholders to develop Transit-Oriented Communities (TOCs) throughout our region. I am committed to providing access to housing, jobs, healthcare, and education to all we serve. I look forward to working together to create a more connected future.”
Michael Riley
Reginald Townsend
+"I pledge to foster collaboration and partnerships with neighboring communities and stakeholders and to support policies that prioritize safety and the overall customer experience. I am dedicated to modernizing our transit system to help enhance connectivity and accessibility across our region - one that is a thriving and inclusive environment for all."
Reginald Townsend
Vice Chair, KCATA Board of CommissionersRichard Jarrold
+“I pledge to work with customers, the community, local governments, and our staff to listen to ideas and convert them into better community services. I will strive to lead our team to improve communications – both internally and externally – and to listen with respect to all voices.”
Richard Jarrold
Deputy CEO
Terri Barr-Moore
+“As Chief of Staff, it's my job to ensure that our CEO has the resources, connections and time to serve the highest and best interests of KCATA, our staff and riders. My promise is clear and simple: I promise to do what it takes to enable our leadership to deliver the transit authority our region deserves.”
Terri Barr-Moore
Chief of StaffBruce Beatty
+"I’m committed to leading the financial facets of the agency while helping our team see the whole picture. My goal is to help everyone at KCATA get the resources they need to grow our regional transit system. I’ll continue working everyday to improve the financial health of the agency and improve transparency through diligent financial planning and forecasting.”
Bruce Beatty
Chief Financial Officer
Chuck Ferguson
+“I promise to make sure every bus that leaves our facility is ready for service. I’m dedicated to giving our team what they need to keep our fleet in top condition and our bus shelters clean and welcoming, as well as providing our well-trained bus operators the support they need to connect our tens of thousands of daily riders to their destinations.”
Chuck Ferguson
Chief Operations OfficerTyler Means
+“I’m committed to creating communities people are happy to call home. Mobility services and economic development go hand in hand. I focus on ensuring there is housing that can access transportation services, adding community goods to neighborhoods and creating an environment that is safe and enjoyable for all.”
Tyler Means
Chief Mobility and Strategy Officer
Cindy Baker
+“I pledge to elevate the value of public transportation among our many stakeholders. I will work to ensure that people who rely on public transit are at the heart of our decision-making, and that our communication is timely, clear and accurate. I also commit to building community support for transit.”
Cindy Baker
Senior Director, Marketing, Communications, Customer ServiceBryan Beck
+“I promise to use the unique technology resources available to KCATA to enhance the public transit experience throughout the KC Region. I pledge to work with our public and private partners to promote innovation and teamwork as we work together to serve the communities that we love.”
Bryan Beck
Senior Director, IT
June Berry
+“I’m committed to help provide our employees with a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and growth. I commit to having a diverse workforce, and I promise to have a listening ear for all employees so that they know they matter. My focus is making KCATA an employer of choice.”
June Berry
Senior Director, Human ResourcesDon Bowlin
+“I pledge to work to restore the public's trust in our transit services. This commitment is bigger than just my word or efforts. It takes a team effort. Our team is up to the task and is working to improve reliability, on-time performance, and the safety of our passengers and bus operators.”
Don Bowlin
Senior Director, Transportation
Marla Leeper
+“I promise to make the safety of our passengers and employees a top priority. I’m committed to ensuring every vehicle meets all safety standards and that customers feel safe and comfortable while waiting for or riding the bus. Additionally, I pledge to be environmentally responsible and cost-effective.”
Marla Leeper
Senior Director, Fleet MaintenanceMichael Riley
+“I pledge to work with the community and other stakeholders to develop Transit-Oriented Communities (TOCs) throughout our region. I am committed to providing access to housing, jobs, healthcare, and education to all we serve. I look forward to working together to create a more connected future.”
Michael Riley
Director of Development
Why We Exist
To improve quality of life
+Our mission is to connect people to opportunities.
We do this in two ways: by operating the region’s largest public transportation system, and by spearheading Transportation-Oriented Community development projects so that people can have public transportation nearby.
As a bi-state authority for seven counties and 100+ cities across the Kansas City region, our federal compact enables us to do what others can’t, to care about what others don’t, and to access funds that others aren’t. Public transportation is critical infrastructure for driving equity and prosperity, and at KCATA we are always looking ahead, exploring innovative solutions and employing best practices to foster rider satisfaction and enable the professional growth of our employees.
- Our Federal Compact Enables us to Blur Regional Boundaries
- We believe Public Transportation Drives Equity and Prosperity
- We Connect People to Opportunities Across Four Pillars: Housing, Jobs, Healthcare and Education.
Public Transportation
To get people going
+RideKC is our public facing brand.
We hit the streets in two states, serving more than 32,000 riders daily. We provide safe, reliable service and we’re constantly making improvements big and small to create a better transit system. While the buses you see on the street are a big part of what we do – modern modes of transportation are also in our wheelhouse. We support multiple contemporary services including: MAX lines, IRIS On-Demand, Micro-transit, Freedom, Flex, The KC Streetcar, and the Bike KC program.
Recent progress includes:- Increased rider satisfaction in multiple areas from 2021 to 2022
- +20% increase in reliability of service
- +17% increase in on-time performance
- +11% increase in operator and staff professionalism/friendliness
- Reported an overall rider satisfaction rating 27% above the U.S. average
- Launched the RideKC Performance Dashboard to increase transparency
- Shuttled thousands of champion Chiefs fans to celebrate the Super Bowl win
- Led innovative transit approach to NFL Draft, with zero fare service for thousands of football fans
- Implemented industry-leading recruitment and training of KCATA operators, mechanics and staff
- Initiated Adopt-A-Stop pilot program to enhance bus stop and shelter experience
- Introduced first Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) to lead the region in implementing alternative fuel public transit vehicles
- Improved MAX route frequencies
- Installed USB ports on MAX route buses for on-board personal device charging
- Made Wi-Fi available for passengers on buses with internet connections
- Opened the East Village Transit Center for improved passenger experience including indoor, climate-controlled facility
- Expanded funding for Security Team staffing to respond to safety and security issues of Bus Operators and Passengers
- Launched IRIS On-Demand Transit to complement RideKC bus services
- Continued partnership with KCMO, KCSA and others on Main Street Streetcar Extension to UMKC and Plaza
- Continued partnership with KCMO on cycle track between 2nd and 3rd Streets and Grand (coupled with 3rd and Grand Development project)
- Continued action plan development to address on-street real time signage and kiosk issues at stops and transit centers
- Increased rider satisfaction in multiple areas from 2021 to 2022
Development
To build more ways to connect
+Public transportation is only at its best when more and more people have easy and convenient access to it.
KCATA is leading the way on a national level, as one of the first transit authorities to establish a development division focused on Transit-oriented Communities (TOCs).
TOC development is the deliberate practice of creating places and neighborhoods where it’s convenient to use public transportation, walk, bike or roll. They have become a best practice nationwide, and create vital, equitable and healthier cities. KCATA is built to bring TOCs to our region. Because we are in neighborhoods across the region, we truly know our community and where TOCs would provide the most value. We have the experience, people and relationships to make these transportation hubs a reality.
Recent progress includes:
- Five (5) approved TOC facility projects, including affordable housing, senior housing, and mixed income housing.
- Applied to the Federal Transportation Administration for funding to study a bi-state rail corridor extending from Topeka, KS to Independence, MO that would increase accessibility for residents across 15 counties
- Initiated East-West Corridor Study with KCMO, KCSA, Jackson County, UG and KUHS to evaluate service improvements from KU Medical Center to the Truman Sports Complex and to assess opportunities for reinvestment in adjacent communities
- Supported Bi-state Reinvestment Corridor Study to explore and improve sustainability-focused services from the Legends to Truman Plaza in Independence and encourage reinvestments in adjacent communities
- Initiated an Origin-Destination Study and Route Restoration Work to better understand where and how people move throughout the KC area, resulting in revitalized and reoriented services
- We issued RFPs to promote TOC redevelopment of large vacant properties, including a large site in KC’s Northland, formerly home to KMART.
Where to next?
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