KANSAS CITY TRANSIT ROUTES

CONCISE HISTORY

In 1969, the publicly owned Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) acquired the privately owned Kansas City Transit, and various bus companies operating in the suburbs. This page lists KCATA routes which can trace their histories back to the privately owned transit companies. Some routes were eventually discontinued by KCATA. Other routes were restructured going into the 21st Century, and are identified using the more recent numbers and names. And since its formation KCATA added several new bus routes, which are not listed except for the earliest routes introduced.

Not listed are express routes, or circulator or connector or "Metroflex" routes, nearly all of which were introduced in years after the 1969 public takeover of the transit system.

Prior to the 1969 public takeover, route numbers generally were not used by the public in Kansas City, although maps showed route numbers. The 100 series routes originally had one two digit numbers, but later had 100 added to them for reasons which are unclear. Although some route numbers later reverted to the previous two digit numbers.

In 1975 KCATA introduced several routes in Independence MO. In 2012, Independence formed its own separate bus system.

Several routes or route segments evolved from the several suburban carriers, and are identified by the name of the suburban carrier.



Route   Route                                     Trolley  Motor
Number  Name                                      Bus      Bus

   1   Minnesota/State                           --------   7/13/51
   2   Central                                   --------   6/29/52
   3   3rd Street/Fairfax                        --------   6/29/52
   4   Argentine                                 --------   7/ 8/56
   6   Quindaro                                  --------   7/ 1/34
   7   7th Street                                --------   6/29/52
   9   9th Street                                --------   3/ 1/35
  10   Woodland/Brooklyn                         12/14/47   6/23/57
  11   Northeast-Westside                         5/29/38   1/ 3/59  was 30
  12   12th Street                               --------   7/ 8/56
  15   Truman Road                                3/ 7/40   1/23/59
  18   Indiana                                   12/28/47   6/23/57
  21   Cleveland                                  New Bus   8/26/74
  23   23rd Street                                New Bus   8/26/74
  24   Independence                               5/ 9/38   1/ 3/59
       (Suburban)                                --------   3/ 1/35
  25   Troost                                    --------  10/28/56
  26   East 5th Street                           --------  12/18/55
  27   27th Street                               --------   4/29/56
  28   Blue Ridge                      Schneider
  31   31st Street                               --------  10/ 2/55
  32   Gracemor                                   New Bus   8/26/74
  33   Vivion/Antioch                            --------  12/18/55
       (Suburban)                      Jefferson
  35   Winnwood                                   New Bus  1970's
  36   Gladstone                       Gladstone
  37   Broadway                        Gladstone
  38   Meadowbrook                     Pioneer
  39   39th Street                                New Bus   9/ 1/25
  47   Broadway                                   New Bus   6/ 1/28
  51   Ward Parkway                              --------   3/ 9/50
  53   Armour-Swope Park                          New Bus  10/20/25
  55   Rockhill                                  --------   6/23/57
  56   Red Bridge Express                        --------   6/23/57
  57   Wornall                                   --------   6/23/57
  63   63rd Street                               --------   8/21/49
  71   Prospect                                   3/17/40   1/ 3/59
  75   75th Street                                New Bus   8/26/74
  85   Armour-Paseo                              12/ 4/47   6/23/57  was 54

Route   Route                                     Trolley  Motor
Number  Name                                      Bus      Bus


PRIVATE SUBURBAN BUS COMPANIES

In addition to Kansas City Transit prior to the public takeover, several bus companies had provided service in the suburbs, most becoming part of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority.


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