Metro Area Express
The Metro Area Express (MAX) is express bus service with bus rapid transit characteristics run by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The first service opened on Main Street on July 2005. The second service on Troost Avenue opened on January 1, 2011. MAX has little mileage of dedicated lanes, and lacks off-board fare collection and platform boarding.
| Metro Area Express | |
|---|---|
 Troost Avenue Max Line in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operating |
| Locale | Kansas City Metro Area |
| Stations | 87 Currently |
| Service | |
| Type | Express bus service |
| System | Kansas City Area Transportation Authority |
| Services | 2 Routes 4 Planned 1 under construction |
| Rolling stock | 28 Gillig Low Floor buses |
| History | |
| Opened | July 2005 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 32-mile (51 km) |
Lines
Main Street MAX ("Orange Line")
The Main Street MAX mostly runs along Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri. The line opened in July 2005. It runs from the city market at 3rd and Grand to the Waldo neighborhood at 75th and Wornall Rd.
Troost Avenue MAX ("Green Line")
The Troost Avenue MAX mostly on Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The line opened on January 1, 2011. It runs from 11th and Wyandotte to Bannister and Drury.
Prospect Avenue MAX
The Prospect Avenue MAX is planned to run on Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The line is to run from Downtown KCMO on 12th Street to 75th and Prospect with a possible extension to Bannister and Drury. New transit centers are being planned downtown and at Bannister Road and Blue Ridge Blvd to relocate from Bannister and Drury, which will be served by Troost MAX and Prospect MAX. Cerner is redeveloping the old Bannister Mall site into an office park.
It is scheduled to begin service on December 9, 2019.[1]
State Avenue Connex
The State Avenue Connex is runs along State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. It will run from the 10th and Main transit center in downtown Kansas City, Missouri to Village West Parkway and Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas.
Features
As the region's most significant new public transportation project in decades, MAX provides quick, convenient public transportation that helps reduce traffic congestion and auto emissions. MAX features distinct characteristics that incorporate state of the art technology to deliver customers a high level of reliability, speed and comfort. There are dedicated lanes that help give MAX vehicles a rapid, smooth ride, and special traffic signalization holds a green light longer to keep MAX on schedule. Limited stops mean that MAX can keep moving to key destinations.
Stations
.jpg.webp)
By design, a unique identity was created for MAX, including unique vehicles and easily identifiable stations, not stops. Each station features an 18-foot marker that is well lit at night, serving as a beacon from blocks away. The new modern shelters were designed to provide protection from the elements with a roof that is 80% opaque, providing needed shade in the summer, yet allowing 20% of the light through to break the chill in the winter. One of the most popular features of the stations is the real-time arrival signs. Customers know exactly when the MAX will arrive, taking the guesswork out of waiting.
Fares
The fares for the Metro Area Express is $1.50, collected on board, with free transfer to the rest of the Metro system.
Future corridors
Future corridors are planned for Metcalf Avenue through Johnson County, Kansas; North Oak Trafficway to Missouri Route 152; and for the US Highway 24 and 40 corridor towards Independence, Missouri.
Facts
References
- Wall, Dia (December 6, 2019). "After years of planning, Prospect MAX launches Monday". KSHB News. Retrieved December 8, 2019.