Getting Around
KC’s combination of low population density, dispersion of employment, and well-maintained roads and freeways result in commuting times that are among the shortest in the U.S.
Commute:
- Kansas City has the third best work trip travel time (22.8 minutes) among the 50 major metropolitan areas of the United States. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2022) With highways heading to every corner of the city (and nonstop flights to most major cities) painlessly getting from Point A to Point B is one of KC’s top lifestyle perks.
- KC is rated as the second least-congested metropolitan area in the U.S. for populations over 800,000, and Kansas City drivers spend only 14% of their travel time in traffic congestion on average. (Source: Tom Tom Traffic Index 2023) World-class roadways are in abundance in Kansas City, resulting in very low congestion.
- KC’s central location allows for a short trip to other Midwest destinations. In two hours or less, residents can be in Columbia, Missouri; Lawrence, Kansas; or Manhattan, Kansas.
- Or, if you’re looking to exit our great states’, KC is an eight-hour drive from Chicago, Denver and Dallas.
Transit:
Bus
Kansas City has two primary bus lines – The Metro and The Jo – that travel all across the metro under the RideKC program. There are 89 local bus routes in seven counties of Kansas and Missouri.
MAX is RideKC’s bus rapid transit line serving highly populated residential and commercial corridors in Kansas City, Mo. MAX features frequent service, traffic signal priority, fewer stops for faster service, highly visible MAX stations, sleek designed vehicles, and unique branding.
Monthly Passes are very affordable and are valid for 31 consecutive days. All fares can now be purchased online via the RideKC app.
- Regional Pass: $50 full; $25 reduced rates for seniors, youths and riders with disabilities – All local bus service in Kansas City, Johnson County, Wyandotte County and Independence. It is also good on routes 519, 563, 569, 571 and 595.
- Suburban Express Pass: $95 – Missouri suburbs and downtown Kansas City, or from Johnson County to Lawrence, Kan.
- K-10 Connector: $95 – Overland Park to Lawrence, Kansas
StreetCar
Today, the KC Streetcar is recognized as the most successful by ridership (six million riders in three years) and subsequent new capital investment near the line ($2.25 Billion). This 2.1 mile downtown streetcar route―free to all riders―plans to expand over 9 miles, north-south, extending north to the Missouri Riverfront and south to the Country Club Plaza, adjacent to the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Funding for both expansions has been approved by voters and will move forward. The 3.5 mile expansion south to the Country Club Plaza could be completed as early as 2023.
Bike
Kansas City will build 1,000 miles of bike lanes over the next 20 years to improve cyclist and pedestrian choices that connect to a much larger regional trail network also being expanded. The KC B-Cycle system now has 46 stations in place. Leisurely to serious biking enthusiasts appreciate the extensive trail system in and around KC.
The Rock Island Railroad Corridor, 17 miles of new, shared use path, will be opening in late 2019. The 17-mile Rock Island Corridor shared use path brings the 500 miles of the Katy and Rock Island Trails, linking Kansas City and St. Louis, to within 6-8 miles of completion.View Regional Bikeway System Map. JoCo Trails has more than 35 miles—Turkey Creek Streamway, Shawnee Mission Park, Mill Creek Streamway, and Kansas Bike Trails. For more information visit JCPRD.
Private Ride Services
A host of ride services are available across the Kansas City region including Uber, Lyft, ZipCar cabs and limos. There are also three providers of scooters between downtown and the Country Club Plaza including Bird, RideKC Scooter and Spin.
Airports: