The city’s costly experiment with on-demand transit is yielding to more strategic investment.

In 2016, Kansas City, Missouri became a pioneer in ‘microtransit,’ on-demand transportation services used to supplement or — in some cases — replace public transit.
In a piece for Bloomberg CityLab, David Zipper describes the city’s experiment and interviews Kansas City Area Transportation Authority CEO Frank White III, who says the original goal of introducing microtransit was to get more people to ride transit.
White admits that the public subsidy for the city’s current on-demand transit service is between $20 and $25 per passenger — roughly ten times as much as a fixed-bus route. But White asserts that “It works best in less dense areas. You could use it in rural areas where there is no fixed route service at all, or you could use it as a feeder system to nearby buses — but then the whole system has to be correlated, which can be challenging.”
For White, microtransit can also be a tool for gauging public interest in transit to pave the way for future fixed-route service and serving areas with no other options. “I think we’ll see more strategic use of microtransit, focusing on less dense areas and connecting with our fixed-route buses.”
FULL STORY: Kansas City Looks Back on its Long, Costly Ride With Microtransit

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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