Draft RideKC Bus System Redesign Announced

The RideKC bus system is being redesigned on a high frequency grid.

2 minute read

November 19, 2020, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Kansas City Bus

David Wilson / Flickr

The RideKC Next project released a Draft Network plan and launched a public review process earlier this month.

According to the RideKC website that announces the changes, the new Draft Network will offer the same amount of bus service, but reconfigured onto a high-frequency grid to "connect more people to more opportunity."

According to statistics cited on the same page, the RideKC Draft Network will bring 19 percent more people with a half-mile of a frequent bus route, defined as routes with headways of 15 minutes or better on weekdays and Saturdays, and 20 minutes on Sundays. "In an hour or less, the average KCMO resident could reach 7% more jobs on weekdays, and 22% more jobs on Saturdays on transit," according to the website.

According to the website, summarizes the Draft Network thusly:

The goal of the revised plan is to provide a simpler, easier and more efficient network that connects more people to opportunity. The proposed restructuring seeks to balance ridership and coverage considerations, while accurately reflecting the values of communities in Kansas City. This includes establishing a frequent grid in the core of the transit network, while also providing flexible services that cover larger areas and provide access to the system.

The public meetings for the Draft Network launched earlier this month but are continuing on Zoom or by phone into December. The city hired Jarrett Walker and Associates to design the Draft Network. Jarrett Walker tweeted news about the Draft Network release earlier this month.

Thursday, November 5, 2020 in RideKC

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

"Units for sale - contact your local realtor" sign in front of homes.

‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods

A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.

May 19 - Next City

Turquoise blue Pyramid Lake near Reno, Nevada.

Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan

A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.

May 19 - Inside Climate News

Alpine Recreation Center sign in park in Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA.

More Than a Park: A Safe Haven for Generations in LA’s Chinatown

Alpine Recreation Center serves as a vital cultural and community hub in Los Angeles' Chinatown, offering a safe, welcoming space for generations of Chinese American residents to gather, connect, and thrive amidst rapid urban change.

May 19 - American Community Media

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.