Kansas City’s newest bus rapid transit (BRT) line, Prospect MAX BRT, will open on Dec. 9, 2019. The route includes 10 miles of Prospect Ave. between downtown Kansas City and 75th St.
“This is a win for the region, but more so for the people who live along Prospect,” said Robbie Makinen, President and CEO of Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. “We are thankful to the Federal Transit Administration and the local construction firms and many partners who’ve collaborated to bring this innovative BRT technology to Kansas City’s eastside.”
Prospect MAX will offer frequent service, uniquely branded MAX stations and vehicles, traffic signal priority and fewer stops for faster service. Additionally, the BRT route will inject $56 million worth of street and sidewalk upgrades, transit stop infrastructure and advanced technology along its corridor.
Each MAX BRT station will feature a newly designed passenger waiting shelter with an integrated wayfinding kiosk to provide interactive trip planning and real-time departure information, eliminating the need for printed maps and schedules. The kiosks feature a capacitive LCD touchscreen, speakers, a microphone, webcam and an ADA-compliant text-to-speech button for audio announcements.
The stations’ freestanding digital totem features the MAX station’s name with LED illumination, and a two-sided LCD display that provides next-departure times and ridership alerts. Wi-fi is also offered at the stations.
High ridership stations have level boarding and conductive concrete, which melts snow and ice. KCATA says local firms built and repaired more than 40,000 feet of sidewalks along the route. The DBE participation goal was set at 15 percent. KCATA surpassed that with 26 percent participation from local minority firms.
The 75th & Prospect Transit Center at Alphapointe will also open Dec. 9, and the East Village Transit Center will open in Spring 2020.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
