While the details of funding are undetermined, Kansas City, Missouri took a monumental step in the history of U.S. public transit yesterday.
"The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council on Thursday unanimously approved to a resolution that may eliminate public bus fares, positioning the city to become the first major metropolitan area with free public bus service," reports Nick Starling.
The Zero Fare Transit program, as the city is calling it, will require "the City Manager to include a funding request in the next fiscal year budget to make fixed route public transportation fare free within the City," according to the text of the resolution approved yesterday. Where the money for the program comes from remains an open question.
Both Kansas City Mayor Quintron Lucas and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority voiced its support for Zero Fare Transit on Twitter.
Thank you @KCMO City Council. This is going to improve the lives of so many and help fuel the local economy. #ZeroFareTransit https://t.co/z3eZgQbtfl
— RideKC (@RideKCTransit) December 5, 2019
FULL STORY: Free bus rides: KCMO Council moves closer to eliminating fares
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