(Kansas City, Mo. – Feb. 3, 2014) The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is preparing for the coming storm that will affect travel this week.
Metro bus riders are advised to keep informed on current conditions and plan for severe winter weather. Delays are expected as road conditions worsen throughout the day on Tuesday. KCATA is currently planning to provide bus service throughout the day. However, if road conditions become too bad, a reduction or suspension of service may be necessary for the safety of our passengers and professional bus operators. Should reduction of service be necessary, we will provide as much notice as possible. Please check the website frequently for updates.
Extreme cold temperatures are expected behind this storm, making snow removal from streets and transit stops more difficult. The first priority for our road maintenance team is to make sure streets allow for buses to safely travel. After that has been addressed, crews will work on major Metro and MAX stops. Due to the very cold weather and possible high snowfall totals, we expect this to take longer than normal. In addition to KCATA employees, we are arranging for snow removal from private sources.
“This storm has the potential to cause a major disruption to Metro service,” said Communications Director Cindy Baker. “If our customers need to travel Tuesday and beyond, we encourage them to dress warmly, listen to local newscasts for up to date information, and use the online tools to learn if their bus is delayed.”
KCATA plans to provide a Warming Bus from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow at the 10th & Main MetroCenter.
Where to get information
The Regional Call Center, 816-221-0660, will be open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The Call Center is regularly open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Online, customers can get updates at www.kcata.org and review the Snow Plan, which pinpoints several areas that experience difficult travel in snowy weather. KCATA also distributes notices about system-wide delays through Twitter. Customers can follow The Metro at www.twitter.com/KCATAMetro.
The Metro offers real-time bus information through WebWatch. Customers can find their individual routes and see where buses are on a real-time map at www.kcata.org/maps_schedules/webwatch/. A mobile version from a third-party software designer is available at http://itsab.us/tracker/.