KCATA bus fares returning after free pandemic rides

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Beginning June 1, public transit services in the Kansas City region, including KCATA, Johnson County Transit, and Unified Government Transit, will start charging fares again after offering free rides during the pandemic. The Kansas City Streetcar will remain fare-free. KCATA is working to make the transition as smooth and affordable as possible, with single ride fares, daily passes, weekly passes, and monthly passes available at both full price and reduced rates.

Why it matters

The return of bus fares in Kansas City aims to provide sustainable funding for public transit as ridership continues to recover from the pandemic. Fare capping will help frequent riders save money, while reduced fares will ensure transit remains accessible for lower-income residents.

The details

Single ride fares will cost $2, daily passes $4, weekly passes $20, and monthly passes $62.50. Riders who qualify for reduced fares will pay half those amounts. Cash will not be accepted on buses, and riders will need to purchase passes at off-the-bus locations using cash or credit cards. KCATA's new fare capping system will automatically stop charging riders once they've reached the cost of a daily, weekly or monthly pass, designed to save frequent riders money.

• KCATA bus fares will return on June 1, 2026.
• The Kansas City Streetcar will remain fare-free at this time.

What’s next

KCATA will soon publish information on off-the-bus locations where riders can purchase single, daily, weekly or monthly passes using cash or credit cards. More details on how to qualify for reduced fares will also be shared.