Kansas City Free Bus Rides 'Still Low Quality' & In Search Of Funding

For Sunday we hope to highlight an honest critique of a bold Kansas City transportation experiment. 

The most important point . . . 

ADMITTEDLY "LOW QUALITY" SERVICE RUINS KANSAS CITY FREE BUS RIDES AS MONEY FOR THE EFFORT SEEMS TO BE DRYING UP!!!

Here's a forthright quote by way of critical VOA reporting that doesn't just accept 12th & Oak talking points and offers a glimpse of impending economic hardships . . . Check-it . . .

Richard Jarrold, deputy CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, said the program has been successful and “benefits the community by helping people save money they can use for rent and medical care.”

But TransitCenter’s David Bragdon sees a downside, saying Kansas City used to have “low-quality transit that cost $1.50 to ride. Now, it has low-quality transit that costs nothing but not a lot of people ride it because it's still low quality.”

Instead of eliminating the fares, said Bragdon, they should have used the income to improve the services.

Kansas City is facing substantial financial challenges to continue the free fares.

“Politically, we have the support of the city of Kansas City, which has provided additional funding to partially offset the loss of the revenue,” Jarrold said. “But long-term, we're looking at possible different funding, including from health insurance companies and a social service agency.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Free Public Transportation Accelerates in Some US Cities

The push for free-fare public transit is growing in the United States, despite a debate over its feasibility. While some cities have been taking small steps, Washington recently passed a measure to eliminate fares on city buses. It is the largest city to put into place a zero-fare transit program, set to begin by July 1.