Johnson County looks to cut bus routes, grow microtransit. But not all officials agree

Johnson County leaders are looking to reduce bus routes with low ridership and expand other parts of the public transportation system — including the Uber-like microtransit system, which officials say has been growing in popularity each month.

But some worry the plan will cause more harm than good, eliminating a transportation option for some elderly and disabled residents, as well as low-wage workers. They have concerns that the county isn’t doing enough to build a more robust, effective transportation system to better serve the burgeoning Kansas City suburbs.

“I urge you to not cut these routes until you have a plan in mind to assist all of the individuals whose bus routes you would be removing,” Sheila Styron, a visually impaired Kansas City resident, told the board of commissioners at their Jan. 30 meeting. “These people cannot afford Ubers. They cannot afford taxis. If you don’t have something in place to serve them, I urge you to please keep the bus routes until you do.”