Kansas City's Northeast News reported on Tuesday that the Kansas City Area Transit Authority (KCATA) will be combining several bus stops in the region to "improve passenger satisfaction."
On Oct. 4, 2015, six routes will be affected, including 24-Independence and 30-Northeast. Stops being removed will have Rider Alerts posted at each location. In a press release from the KCATA, the biggest factor in removing a stop is low ridership at a specific location, which will provide a smoother ride and help keep buses on time.
This is good news: a sign that the KCATA is reviewing their ridership information and making changes where necessary. But they can do more than just make changes to where buses stop, as this latest plan does. In the past, KCATA has issued bulletins about changes in service. Some are temporary responses to construction or large events, and some are more permanent changes in routes. As populations shift, KCATA is able to assess need and make changes to routes, route frequencies, and the number and location of stops. This is a good thing, and underscores the exact reason why modern bus transit is superior to light rail and streetcars. Not only can fixed rail not be rerouted to account for changing population needs, the train cars themselves cannot even change lanes to avoid broken down vehicles or other train cars.
As has been said before, trains don't take you were you want to go, they take you where developers and urban planners want you to go. KCATA's recent actions demonstrate exactly why buses are a better transit choice.
