Varying majorities of voters in four polled counties support creating dedicated funding for public transit.

Overview

• Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) commissioned a poll related to transit funding and other issues across four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties.
• A majority of voters in every county support creating dedicated funding for public transportation, with the strongest support in Jackson County.
• KCRTA is working with partners to identify next steps, including public education and advancing a specific ballot measure.
• Learn more about results in Clay County (click here), Jackson County (click here), Johnson County (click here), and Wyandotte County (click here).

Read on for more information.

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The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) has developed a county-based transit funding strategy and is now working to build support for this new regional funding mechanism. 

Acknowledging that regional cooperation can be challenging on any issue, this strategy instead asks each county in the region to establish their own dedicated transit funding stream for operations and then, if voters approve on that county’s timeline, that county would determine the governance model and services for that transit investment.

The current system has individual governments fund transit from their general revenue, which leaves our system underfunded and our regional economy lagging our peers. The notable exception is Kansas City, Missouri, with two dedicated citywide transit sales taxes and a special district to fund the streetcar.

To better understand where voter sentiment is on the issue of transit funding, KCRTA worked with partners across the region to develop and commission a poll of voters in the Kansas City area. These voters were located in four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties. The poll, conducted in late July 2025 by EMC Research, reached 400 voters in each county and has a regional margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points (county-level margins of error vary and are available in the memo for each county).

Regardless of whether they personally use public transit, a majority of voters expressed the belief that public transit is a public good that deserves additional public funding.

Poll results are listed below:

Q: Next year, there may be a measure on the ballot in [COUNTY] that would increase the local sales tax by 1/2¢ for 10 years to fund public transit bus services in [COUNTY]. If the election were held today, would you vote yes to approve or no to reject this measure?

County	% Yes Uninformed	%Yes After Messages*
Clay	53%	54%
Jackson	57%	61%
Johnson	52%	56%
Wyandotte	50%	57%

*“After Messages” means the share of voters who would vote yes for a transit measure after hearing potential reasons why the measure could be beneficial.

With these results, KCRTA plans to take key steps in the coming months to build upon this information. That will include:

• Outreach to elected officials and other stakeholders to share results and build support for public transit
• Additional polling as needed to gauge voter support for transit and related infrastructure improvements
• Building coalitions necessary to support ballot measures that fund our public transit system

If you’re interested in learning more, please contact us at chair@kcrta.org. 

About the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance: The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance is a non-profit organization that educates the public on transit accessibility, gathers public opinion, communicates, and advocates to expand, enhance, and improve today’s transit options. Our mission is to expand, enhance, and improve mass transit in the Kansas City region.

57% of voters polled would support dedicated transit funding in Wyandotte County.

Overview

• Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) commissioned a poll related to transit funding and other issues across four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties.
• In Wyandotte County, a majority of voters would support a ballot measure for transit funding, and that support grows considerably with additional messaging.
• Voters are more likely to support if funding is also allocated for issues like pedestrian safety and road/bridge improvements.

Read on for more information.

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The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) has developed a county-based transit funding strategy and is now working to build support for this new regional funding mechanism. 

Acknowledging that regional cooperation can be challenging on any issue, this strategy instead asks each county in the region to establish their own dedicated transit funding stream for operations and then, if voters approve on that county’s timeline, that county would determine the governance model and services for that transit investment.

The current system in Wyandotte County is precarious. Because of ongoing funding challenges, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas (UG) Commission has pursued revenue-neutral spending to all departments, including UG Transit. This has led to a service reduction in routes along key corridors such as 18th Street and Leavenworth Road. Enhancements to existing service and expansion of new fixed route services has long been recommended in Wyandotte County, including most recently recommendations for enhanced BRT on the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor along State Ave. Increased service is not possible without additional local match funding and sustainable revenue for transit operations.

To better understand where voter sentiment is on the issue of transit funding, KCRTA worked with partners across the region to develop and commission a poll of voters in the Kansas City area. These voters were located in four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties. The portion of the poll which covered Wyandotte County, conducted in late July 2025 by EMC Research, reached 400 voters in each county and has an overall margin of error of +/- 4.9 percentage points.

Regardless of whether they personally use public transit, a majority of Wyandotte County voters believe it is a public service that is worthy of additional public funding. Poll results are listed below:

Q: Next year, there may be a measure on the ballot in [COUNTY] that would increase the local sales tax by 1/2¢ for 10 years to fund public transit bus services in [COUNTY]. If the election were held today, would you vote yes to approve or no to reject this measure?

50%Yes, Uninformed

57%Yes, After Messages*

*“After Messages” means the share of voters who would vote yes for a transit measure after hearing potential reasons why the measure could be beneficial.

Q: When voters were asked whether or not they agree or disagree with each of the following statements:

• Public transit is a vital public service for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people entering the workforce.
  • 83% indicated they agree (54% Strongly Agree/29% Somewhat Agree)
• It is important to have high quality transit service in our area, even if I rarely use it personally.
  • 81% indicated they agree (50% Strongly Agree/31% Somewhat Agree)
• Public transit is essential for jobs and the local economy.
  • 80% indicated they agree (47% Strongly Agree/33% Somewhat Agree)
• Public transit reduces traffic congestion in our growing region.
  • 67% indicated they agree (29% Strongly Agree/38% Somewhat Agree)

Q: For each of the following items that could be included in a future sales tax measure to fund public transit bus services, please indicate if you support or oppose that item.

Issue	Total Support
Improving and adding sidewalks to protect pedestrian safety	79%
Improving the safety of public buses and bus stops	73%
Improving, expanding, and maintaining bike trails and bike share	49%
Increasing the number of KCATA bus routes and stops in Johnson County	59%
Increasing the frequency of KCATA bus service	54%

With these results, KCRTA plans to take key steps in the coming months to build upon this information. That will include:

• Outreach to UG staff and UG commissioners to share this information.
• Outreach and public education to inform voters about the importance of transit and the transit system’s needs in Wyandotte County.
• Coordination with planners and policymakers as the Bistate Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor (BSRC) Plan and Smart Moves Regional Transit Plan are completed.
• Additional polling to gauge voter support for transit and related improvements.
• Educational support for future ballot issues that increase transit funding in UG.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at chair@kcrta.org. 

About the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance: The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance is a non-profit organization that educates the public on transit accessibility, gathers public opinion, communicates, and advocates to expand, enhance, and improve today’s transit options. Our mission is to expand, enhance, and improve mass transit in the Kansas City region.

56% of voters polled would support dedicated transit funding in Johnson County.

Overview

• Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) commissioned a poll related to transit funding and other issues across four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties.
• In Johnson County, a majority of voters would support a ballot measure for transit funding, and that support grows with additional messaging.
• Voters were more likely to support a measure coupled with road repairs and improving pedestrian safety.

Read on for more information.

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The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) has developed a county-based transit funding strategy and is now working to build support for this new regional funding mechanism. 

Acknowledging that regional cooperation can be challenging on any issue, this strategy instead asks each county in the region to establish their own dedicated transit funding stream for operations and then, if voters approve on that county’s timeline, that county would determine the governance model and services for that transit investment.

Johnson County finds itself at a crossroads when it comes to how to operate its public transit system. Their public transportation system transports about 379,000 riders a year on fixed routes, as well as 84,000 paratransit riders and over 32,000 microtransit riders. As Johnson County Transit develops its strategic plan, it is also studying a rapid transit route on Metcalf Avenue. Increased service levels Countywide and on Metcalf would require additional funding to ensure consistent operations.

To better understand where voter sentiment is on the issue of transit funding, KCRTA worked with partners across the region to develop and commission a poll of voters in the Kansas City area. These voters were located in four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties. The portion of the poll which covered Johnson County, conducted in late July 2025 by EMC Research, reached 400 voters in each county and has an overall margin of error of +/- 4.9 percentage points.

Regardless of whether they personally use public transit, a majority of Johnson County voters believe it is a public service worthy of additional public funding. Poll results are listed below:

Q: Next year, there may be a measure on the ballot in [COUNTY] that would increase the local sales tax by 1/2¢ for 10 years to fund public transit bus services in [COUNTY]. If the election were held today, would you vote yes to approve or no to reject this measure?

52%Yes, Uninformed

56%Yes, After Messages*

*“After Messages” means the share of voters who would vote yes for a transit measure after hearing potential reasons why the measure could be beneficial.

Q: When voters were asked whether or not they agree or disagree with each of the following statements:

• Public transit is a vital public service for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people entering the workforce.
  • 74% indicated they agree (44% Strongly Agree/30% Somewhat Agree)
• It is important to have high quality transit service in our area, even if I rarely use it personally.
  • 75% indicated they agree (41% Strongly Agree/33% Somewhat Agree)
• Public transit is essential for jobs and the local economy.
  • 68% indicated they agree (34% Strongly Agree/34% Somewhat Agree)
• Public transit reduces traffic congestion in our growing region.
  • 64% indicated they agree (26% Strongly Agree/38% Somewhat Agree)

Q: For each of the following items that could be included in a future sales tax measure to fund public transit bus services, please indicate if you support or oppose that item.

Issue	Total Support
Improving and adding sidewalks to protect pedestrian safety	71%
Improving the safety of public buses and bus stops	65%
Improving, expanding, and maintaining bike trails and bike share	53%
Increasing the number of KCATA bus routes and stops in Johnson County	50%
Increasing the frequency of KCATA bus service	47%

With these results, KCRTA plans to take key steps in the coming months to build upon this information. That will include:

• Outreach to Johnson County transit staff and the Johnson County Commission to share this information.
• Outreach and public education to inform voters and about the importance of transit and the transit system’s needs in Johnson County.
• Coordination with planners and policymakers as the Metcalf Corridor Fast and Frequent Transit Study and Smart Moves Regional Transit Plan are completed.
• Additional polling to gauge voter support for transit and related improvements.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at chair@kcrta.org. 

About the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance: The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance is a non-profit organization that educates the public on transit accessibility, gathers public opinion, communicates, and advocates to expand, enhance, and improve today’s transit options. Our mission is to expand, enhance, and improve mass transit in the Kansas City region.

54% of voters polled would support dedicated transit funding in Clay County.

Overview

• Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) commissioned a poll related to transit funding and other issues across four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties.
• In Clay County, a majority of voters support a ballot measure for transit funding.
• Voters were more likely to support a measure coupled with road repairs and improving pedestrian safety.

Read on for more information.

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The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) has developed a county-based transit funding strategy and is now working to build support for this new regional funding mechanism. 

Acknowledging that regional cooperation can be challenging on any issue, this strategy instead asks each county in the region to establish their own dedicated transit funding stream for operations and then, if voters approve on that county’s timeline, that county would determine the governance model and services for that transit investment.

Transit challenges have grown more pressing in Clay County and the entire Northland in recent years. Communities such as Liberty and Gladstone have eliminated fixed-route service due to low ridership and other hurdles that emerged as a result of the pandemic. While on-demand services like IRIS have provided some relief, they are not the long-term solution that Clay County residents need.

To better understand where voter sentiment is on the issue of transit funding, KCRTA worked with partners across the region to develop and commission a poll of voters in the Kansas City area. These voters were located in four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties. The portion of the poll which covered Clay County, conducted in late July 2025 by EMC Research, reached 400 voters in each county and has an overall margin of error of +/- 4.9 percentage points.

Regardless of whether they personally use public transit, a majority of Clay County voters believe it is a public service worthy of additional public funding. Poll results are listed below:

Q: Next year, there may be a measure on the ballot in [COUNTY] that would increase the local sales tax by 1/2¢ for 10 years to fund public transit bus services in [COUNTY]. If the election were held today, would you vote yes to approve or no to reject this measure?

53%Yes, Uninformed

54%Yes, After Messages*

*“After Messages” means the share of voters who would vote yes for a transit measure after hearing potential reasons why the measure could be beneficial.

Q: When voters were asked whether or not they agree or disagree with each of the following statements:

• Public transit is a vital public service for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people entering the workforce.
  • 78% indicated they agree (44% Strongly Agree/34% Somewhat Agree)
• It is important to have high quality transit service in our area, even if I rarely use it personally.
  • 75% indicated they agree (40% Strongly Agree/35% Somewhat Agree)
• Public transit is essential for jobs and the local economy.
  • 72% indicated they agree (35% Strongly Agree/37% Somewhat Agree)
• Public transit reduces traffic congestion in our growing region.
  • 67% indicated they agree (27% Strongly Agree/40% Somewhat Agree)

Q: For each of the following items that could be included in a future sales tax measure to fund public transit bus services, please indicate if you support or oppose that item.

Issue	Total Support
Improving and adding sidewalks to protect pedestrian safety	80%
Improving the safety of public buses and bus stops	69%
Improving, expanding, and maintaining bike trails and bike share	45%
Increasing the number of KCATA bus routes and stops in Johnson County	56%
Increasing the frequency of KCATA bus service	49%

With these results, KCRTA plans to take key steps in the coming months to build upon this information. That will include:

• Outreach to the Clay County Commission to share this information.
• Outreach and public education to inform voters about the importance of transit and the transit system’s needs in Clay County.
• Additional polling to gauge voter support for transit and related improvements.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at chair@kcrta.org. 

About the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance: The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance is a non-profit organization that educates the public on transit accessibility, gathers public opinion, communicates, and advocates to expand, enhance, and improve today’s transit options. Our mission is to expand, enhance, and improve mass transit in the Kansas City region.

61% of voters polled would support dedicated transit funding in Jackson County.

Overview

• Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) commissioned a poll related to transit funding and other issues across four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties.
• In Jackson County, 57% of voters would support a ballot measure for transit funding, and that support climbs over 61% with additional messaging.
• Voters were more likely to support a measure coupled with road repairs and improving pedestrian safety.

Read on for more information.

---

The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA) has developed a county-based transit funding strategy and is now working to build support for this new regional funding mechanism. 

Acknowledging that regional cooperation can be challenging on any issue, this strategy instead asks each county in the region to establish their own dedicated transit funding stream for operations and then, if voters approve on that county’s timeline, that county would determine the governance model and services for that transit investment.

Jackson County currently has the highest amount of transit service in the Kansas City region, due largely to the two dedicated sales taxes in Kansas City, Missouri. Other cities within Jackson County have significant transit needs that cannot be met with existing funding levels. In particular, Independence recently eliminated all fixed route bus service. Grandview also recently cut its bus route. Even in Kansas City, service has been cut due to rising costs and diversion of sales tax funds to other City priorities. There are many plans being crafted for new transit service in Jackson County, including the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor and the East-West Transit corridor. These priorities and others will require local funding to support ongoing operations as well as a local match for any Federal grants. 

To better understand where voter sentiment is on the issue of transit funding, KCRTA worked with partners across the region to develop and commission a poll of voters in the Kansas City area. These voters were located in four counties: Clay, Jackson, Johnson, and Wyandotte Counties. The portion of the poll which covered Jackson County, conducted in late July 2025 by EMC Research, reached 400 voters in each county and has an overall margin of error of +/- 4.9 percentage points.

Regardless of whether they personally use public transit, a majority of Jackson County voters believe it is a public service worthy of additional public funding. Poll results are listed below:

Q: Next year, there may be a measure on the ballot in [COUNTY] that would increase the local sales tax by 1/2¢ for 10 years to fund public transit bus services in [COUNTY]. If the election were held today, would you vote yes to approve or no to reject this measure?

57%Yes, Uninformed

61%Yes, After Messages*

*“After Messages” means the share of voters who would vote yes for a transit measure after hearing potential reasons why the measure could be beneficial.

Q: When voters were asked whether or not they agree or disagree with each of the following statements:

• Public transit is a vital public service for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people entering the workforce.
  • 83% indicated they agree (55% Strongly Agree/29% Somewhat Agree)
• It is important to have high quality transit service in our area, even if I rarely use it personally.
  • 81% indicated they agree (53% Strongly Agree/29% Somewhat Agree)
• Public transit is essential for jobs and the local economy.
  • 82% indicated they agree (48% Strongly Agree/34% Somewhat Agree)
• Public transit reduces traffic congestion in our growing region.
  • 70% indicated they agree (31% Strongly Agree/38% Somewhat Agree)

Q: For each of the following items that could be included in a future sales tax measure to fund public transit bus services, please indicate if you support or oppose that item.

Issue	Total Support
Improving and adding sidewalks to protect pedestrian safety	77%
Improving the safety of public buses and bus stops	75%
Improving, expanding, and maintaining bike trails and bike share	45%
Increasing the number of KCATA bus routes and stops in Johnson County	54%
Increasing the frequency of KCATA bus service	51%

With these results, KCRTA plans to take key steps in the coming months to build upon this information. That will include:

• Outreach to Jackson County legislators to share this information.
• Outreach and public education to inform voters about the importance of transit and the transit system’s needs in Jackson County.
• Coordination with planners and policymakers as the Bi-state Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor (BSRC) Plan and Smart Moves Regional Transit Plan are completed.
• Additional polling to gauge voter support for transit and related improvements.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at chair@kcrta.org. 

About the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance: The Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance is a non-profit organization that educates the public on transit accessibility, gathers public opinion, communicates, and advocates to expand, enhance, and improve today’s transit options. Our mission is to expand, enhance, and improve mass transit in the Kansas City region.

KCRTA will participate in a panel discussion on transit funding. The session will also include background on how transit is funded today and the results of recent survey work conducted by Mid-America Regional Council.

https://www.marc.org/event/transit-funding-101

Two more local governments — the City of Independence and the Unified Government of KCK/Wyandotte County — are slashing bus service due to rising costs and the lack of a dedicated funding mechanism.

Both governments fund transit from general revenue.

Independence: https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/independence-to-suspend-bus-services-in-2025-citizens-concerned-with-iris-replacement

UG: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article292982934.html

These reductions are on top of similar cuts in Gladstone, Raytown, and Grandview in the last year.

KCRTA’s strategy is to advocate for county-based dedicated sales taxes that voters could approve separately, rather than voting on the same rate or at the same time (like the bi-state election that restored Union Station).

Stay tuned for more details on this strategy in 2025!

https://www.marc.org/event/bi-state-sustainable-reinvestment-corridor-public-meeting

Learn about a comprehensive multi-jurisdictional strategy to support infrastructure, transportation, and economic development along this 24-mile corridor connecting four cities: Independence, Sugar Creek, and Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas.

A Better Connected Corridor
Thriving and Livable Communities
Tools to Build a Better Future

Visit the project website for more information.

Local officials gathered this week to kick-off a potential zero-emission bus rapid transit project connecting cities on both sides of the state line.

The Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor will connect four cities in two states and two counties with frequent transit service. The 24-mile corridor is currently served by two local bus routes (#24 and #101) operated by KCATA and funded by a mix of local funding from KCMO, Unified Government, and the City of Independence.

While the two existing routes connect at the East Village Transit Center in downtown KCMO, they have dramatically different schedules.

Route 24 is frequent within KCMO, and that service is funded by the city. An extension of that route into Independence is less frequent, provides limited night and weekend service, and is funded by Independence.

Route 101 is infrequent and offers limited night and weekend service. It is funded entirely by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

Service improvements would need a new source of funding since the existing operations are limited across the 24-mile corridor. This supports our strategy of putting countywide sales taxes dedicated to transit in front of voters in the next 3-5 years, as it would simplify funding for a bi-state route spanning four separate municipalities.

Image credit: City of Kansas City, Missouri

The second of eight shiny new streetcars arrived in Kansas City on April 30 as construction of the Main Street Extension inches closer to completion.

KCRTA sponsored the elections that created the larger Transportation Development District that is providing the local funding to match federal grants, which are covering the cost of the new vehicles. Once operational, the voter-approved TDD will support 100% of operating costs.

KCRTA is using funds reimbursed to us for the formation costs to further our regional funding strategy. This multi-county strategy could provide additional funding for more streetcar and MAX lines on both sides of the state line.

If you’re interested in sponsoring our work or joining as a member, click here.