Existing Situation Assessment Report One RideKC: Regional Transit and Funding Plan June 16, 2021

1 Table of • Overview of the Regional Context Contents • Existing Transit Plans and Initiatives • Initial Market Analysis • Growth and Investment Forecast • 4 Pillars of Access • Next Steps

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 2 Overview of the Regional Context

• As the bi-state agency charged with serving the transportation and development needs of the City region, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) connects people to opportunities through safe, reliable public transportation. • RideKC is a unified presence for all transit agencies in the region, including , IndeBus, Unified Government Transit, and KC Streetcar Authority. • RideKC partners are multimodal and include the Mid-America Regional Council, RideshareKC, RideKC Bike, and the Regional Transit Coordinating Council.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 3 Overview of the Regional Context

• The region lacks a dedicated transit funding source, with the only dedicated funding coming from two Kansas City, sales taxes: a permanent ½ cent tax and a ⅜ cent tax expiring in 2024. • A peer analysis concluded that the region is underspending on transit, which is affecting economic competitiveness (MARC, 2018). • Other transit funding comes jurisdiction by jurisdiction via annual contracts using general funds. • The existing funding arrangement limits the ability of any given entity to implement regional mobility solutions.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 4 Overview of the Regional Context

• Significant work has been done and is continuing to be done on the issue of regional transit and transit funding in the bi-state Kansas City area. • The area is building momentum for transit with several recent successes. • Recent successes include the KC Streetcar (starter line and funding for extension), Micro Transit expansion on both sides of the state line, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Economic Development funding (RideKC Development Corporation), implementation of Freedom On-Demand, and Zero Fare initiative.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 5 Existing Transit Plans and Initiatives

• There is an opportunity to build from the foundation of existing plans and services to develop an integrated regional transit plan and funding strategy that makes the case for regional transit investment. • While this effort focuses on transit, it recognizes that multi-modal connections and related infrastructure and policies are critical to success. • Similarly, land use, development, and affordable housing plans and policies are an important piece of the region achieving the four pillars of access to Housing, Jobs, Healthcare, and Education.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 6 Smart Moves 3.0

Led by MARC, Smart Moves 3.0 is the region’s 20-year transit and mobility plan, aimed to guide the region to: Image • Enhance mobility and increase access to jobs • Increase transit and mobility usage • Increase development along high capacity corridors • Improve customer information • Increase funding for transit and mobility services • Decrease greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants Year Plan Completed: 2017 Timeframe Addressed in Plan: 20-year horizon Potential Project(s): • Fast & Frequent Network • Regional Mobility Hubs • List of service improvements to existing and future fixed route services

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 7 RideKC Next

RideKC Next is a comprehensive review and redesign of transit service that focused on Kansas City, MO service. The core Image tenets of the plan and RideKC service are better access to jobs, education, healthcare, and affordable housing.

Year Plan Completed: 2021 Timeframe Addressed in Plan: Current service Potential Project(s): • Focus on MAX corridors and Fast & Frequent Network • Consistent service, seven days a week • Frequent grid to connect more people to opportunities • Key connections focused on areas with transit supportive development

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 8 Next Rail

Next Rail is a study to evaluate an expanded streetcar rail network beyond the downtown starter line. The study evaluated 8 corridors against goals and feasibility factors.

Year Plan Completed: 2013 Timeframe Addressed in Plan: Undetermined Potential Project(s) for Initial Implementation: • Independence Avenue (Streetcar) • Linwood Boulevard/31st Street (Streetcar) • Main Street (Streetcar) - (under construction now) • Prospect Avenue (BRT) - (construction complete)

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 9 Jackson County Commuter Corridors Alternatives Analysis Jackson County Commuter Corridors Alternatives Analysis examined 3 commuter (rail) corridors in Eastern & Southern Jackson County, MO: • Preferred DMU vehicles running underused freight railroad corridors • Recommended terminating at 3rd and Grand rather than Union Station due to Class I Railroad objection • KC Southern (which had a higher ridership potential route in eastern Jackson County) lost interest after Union Station was no longer feasible • Jackson County & KCATA acquired Rock Island Corridor in 2016 Year Plan Completed: 2014 Potential Project(s): • Rock Island Corridor • I-70/KCS East Corridor • US-71 Corridor

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 10 North Rail Streetcar Study

The North Rail study assessed the general feasibility of a northern streetcar extension over the Missouri River, identified a preferred alignment, and began to develop an implementation strategy.

Year Plan Completed: 2014 Timeframe Addressed in Plan: Undetermined Conclusion: • River crossing is technically feasible • Heart of America Bridge as preferred crossing alternative • Burlington Avenue as preferred alignment in NKC

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 11 Independence Ave BRT

The Independence Ave BRT Planning and Feasibility Study evaluated transit and BRT feasibility in the Independence Avenue corridor.

Year Plan Completed: 2019 Timeframe Addressed in Plan: Planned opening 2023 Potential Project(s): • MAX service from to White Avenue (10-minute frequency) • Extended service to Independence Transit Center (1-hour frequency) • Discontinue Route 24 Independence • Protected bicycle lanes on Independence from Paseo to City limits

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 12 North Oak Transit Improvement Study

The North Oak Transit Improvement Study evaluated transit and BRT feasibility in the North Oak corridor.

Year Plan Completed: 2018 Timeframe Addressed in Plan: Planned opening 2024 Potential Project(s): • Fast and frequent service from Crown Center to 169 Hwy & Barry Road (15-minute frequency) • Extended service to Boardwalk Square (30-minute frequency) • Replaces Route 201 North Oak

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 13 North-South Corridor Study

The North-South Corridor Study built upon the 2006 referendum to fund and construct a 27-mile LRT alignment from KCI to the Zoo. Phase 1 determined that project was infeasible. Phase 2 conducted an alternatives analysis for a corridor defined from Vivion Road (Northland) to Meyer Boulevard (southern extent).

Year Plan Completed: 2009 Timeframe Addressed in Plan: Project start in 2011 Potential Project(s): • Determined MAX was the best option for initial investment

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 14 Big 5 Transportation Initiative

Chamber support for regional surface transportation, rail, and aviation efforts to sustain a dynamic business climate. Focus areas include regional investment, advocacy, safety, and workforce access. Built on the data point that less than 10% of metro area jobs are accessible by public transportation.

Year Plan Completed: Ongoing Timeframe Addressed in Plan: Undetermined Potential Project(s): • Short list of regional transportation priorities (including freight, transit, roads and bridges, and aviation) - may include both capital projects as well as operating needs

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 15 Other Local and Regional Plans • Connected KC 2050 • Creating Sustainable Places Corridor Demonstration Projects • 40 Highway • North Oak • Overland Park and Mission • Shawnee and Merriam • Rock Island • Troost • MetroGreen • Planning Sustainable Places Projects • Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Plan • Climate Action Plan • Vision Metcalf • Jackson County Commuter Corridor Alternatives Analysis Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 16 • Initial Market Analysis

• The recently completed RideKC Next plan conducted a comprehensive market analysis that serves as a foundation for additional complementary analysis. • MySidewalk is a dynamic technology platform and comprehensive community database that enables further exploration of the region. • For this engagement, additional data related to the four pillars of access (housing, jobs, healthcare, and education) will be compiled and visualized through the MySidewalk platform. • An interactive version of the initial market analysis can be accessed at: https://reports.mysidewalk.com/991afd99e8#c-640856

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 17 Summary of Initial Findings

Spatial Mismatch Between Workforce • Some areas with highest job density are located in a different and Jobs part of the region than areas with highest unemployment and lowest vehicle access.

Fast and Frequent Network Increases • Fast & Frequent routes will serve a greater proportion of black, Equitable Access hispanic or latino, and single mothers relative to their overall representation in the region.

Fast and Frequent Network Increases • About 1 in 11 people in KCATA's 7-county region live within a Jobs Access 1/2 mile of a proposed fast and frequent route. • Nearly 1 in 5 jobs in the region are within 1/2 mile of a proposed fast and frequent route.

Additional Needs Exist Beyond Fast and • 33,000 households without a car are outside of the fast and Frequent Network frequent network; and 13,000 do not have any transit access. • Nearly 200,000 people with incomes below 200% of the poverty level live in areas without transit service.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 18 Population & Employment Density

• Dark purple represents areas of both high employment and job density relative to the region (block groups are divided into even thirds). • About 1 in 11 people in the KCATA’s 7 counties live within a ½ mile of a proposed fast and frequent route.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 19 Transit-Supportive Density

• Using a minimum of 3 housing units per gross acre or 4 jobs per gross acre* as an indicator of transit- supportive density, Johnson County and Jackson County have the largest amount of transit- supportive densities.

*Thresholds used by TriMet for hourly {midday} service Transit Capacity and quality of Service Manual, Part E Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 20 Who lives along current service?

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 21 Who lives along current service?

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 22 Zero Car Households

• Fast and Frequent network has the highest share of zero car households. • There are still 33k households outside the Fast and Frequent network without a car, and 13k households outside any transit service whatsoever.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 23 Lower-Income Population

• Fast and Frequent network has the highest share of lower-income population (lower than 2x the poverty level). • Nearly 200k lower-income individuals in the Kansas City area live without any transit service at all.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 24 Seniors

• Population within Fast and Frequent network has fewer seniors on average. • Independence and aging in place come with some mobility challenges.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 25 People with Different Levels of Ability

• More people who have difficulty walking, seeing, or some other function affecting mobility live within the current transit service area.*

*Note: Data is available at the census tract level and doesn’t apportion well to custom boundaries. Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 26 Growth and Investment Forecast

• Mid-America Regional Council’s 2040 Forecast uses past land use trends, demographic and economic shifts, community engagement outcomes and anticipated policy changes to predict future land use in the Greater Kansas City area. • MARC’s economic model predicts an The model predicts the region to grow to 2.5 million people additional 597,000 residents and and 1.3 million jobs by 2040. 322,000 jobs by 2040, using 2010 data as a baseline.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 27 Growth and Investment Forecast

Population Change (2010-2040)

300,000 266,392 250,000 • Johnson, Clay, and Jackson Counties 200,000

150,000 are forecasted to experience the 106,635 100,000 67,903 greatest growth in population 51,335 41,331 50,000 25,596 23,124 14,630 - between 2010 and 2040. Johnson Clay Jackson Platte Cass Wyandotte Leavenworth Miami

• Johnson, Jackson, and Platte Employment Change (2010-2040) 180,000 157,332 Counties are forecasted to 160,000 140,000 experience the greatest growth in 120,000 100,000 employment opportunities. 80,000 60,000 46,400 40,095 40,000 31,127 29,185 11,268 20,000 4,401 2,367 - Johnson Jackson Platte Wyandotte Clay Cass Leavenworth Miami

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 28 Growth and Investment Forecast

• MARC developed a baseline forecast and adaptive land use and development scenario. The adopted scenario reached a middle ground between the baseline and adaptive scenarios, where 18% of the region’s growth is captured in existing activity centers and corridors with likely future transit service. • The adopted scenario results in an estimated savings of $2 billion in local infrastructure costs compared to the baseline forecast of growth.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 29 4 Pillars of Access

• The four pillars of access will be incorporated as screening criteria for the regional transit planning scenarios. • Additional work to define the preferred measures of access and identify available datasets for each area of access will be conducted as part of this project. • An initial exploration of readily available potential measures is included in this report.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 30 Workforce

• There is a spatial disconnect between some of the areas with the most jobs density and areas with the highest unemployment in the region. • The areas with higher levels of unemployment also have the lowest levels of vehicle access.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 31 Health

• Health is more than healthcare: life expectancy encapsulates the social determinants of health that go beyond healthcare. • Most of the low life expectancy tracts are served by KCATA’s current network.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 32 Health: Other Possible Metrics

• Access to core preventive services for general population and adults over 65 • Connections to/from healthcare provider shortage areas • Food access • Pharmacy access • Parks and outdoor space access

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 33 Housing

• 4 in 10 renters in the Fast and Frequent area pay at least 30% of their income on rent. • Severe cost burden shows extreme cost burden (>50%) among low-income households only.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 34 Housing: Other Possible Metrics

• Subsidized housing in the region and around transit lines • Size of Affordable Housing need in service area • Residential segregation and isolation metrics (dissimilarity index; isolation index; RECAPs) • Opportunity Zones, HUD Qualified Low Income Census Tract • Expiring housing subsidies in the region and around transit lines

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 35 Education

• School Enrollment along transit routes is consistent with the area average.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 36 Education: Other Possible Metrics

• Access to Public/ Private/ Charter Schools (Pre-K and K-12) • Access to Colleges/ Universities • Access to Youth-Serving Organizations (Recreation, Community Centers, Tutoring, Libraries, etc.)

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 37 • Using known plans and projects as a Next Steps foundation, facilitate a “Quilting” Workshop with KCATA staff to begin constructing base and alternative scenarios for a regional transit plan. • Build a financial model that compiles and expands on existing cost information in alignment with transit planning scenarios. • Engage KCATA and regional stakeholders in further identifying any major needs and gaps to be incorporated into the regional transit plan. • Develop screening criteria for evaluating transit planning scenarios that incorporates the four pillars of access.

Existing Situation Assessment Report | June 16, 2021 38