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Nearly $9 Million in Federal Grant Money for KC Buses

By Jim Moore

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) $8,986,350 in grant money for the purchase of new buses.

President & CEO of KCATA, Robbie Makinen said, “This is a very big win for the region to stabilize and improve bus service.” FTA’s competitive Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program drew 236 applicants in 47 states

KCATA will purchase sixteen 30-foot buses, two over-the-road coaches, two MAX vehicles and two 40-foot buses. The total cost is expected to be $10,572,176 with local matching funds making up the difference.

Makinen said the grant will enable KCATA to “right size the fleet and explore innovative ways to deploy service.”

The Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program was authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in December 2015.