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Ridehail Connections to RideKC Service with Transit+ App

Transit, an app for Kansas City Area Transportation Authority bus tracking and trip planning, announced Transit+, a new feature that allows riders to connect to public transportation.

Users can already plan a-to-b trips in the app using different options like transit and Kansas City B-cycle. Riders will now also see trip suggestions for certain trips that include taking an Uber or Lyft part of the way, and connecting with bus or streetcar service in Kansas City. This first-of-its kind feature allows users to plan, book, and pay for a ride from either Uber or Lyft, while getting real-time updates on their RideKC connection—all in one app.

“Public transportation shouldn’t be about the mode choice, but the ease of access,” said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president & CEO. “I don’t care if our customers are using the bus, streetcar, scooters or Uber or Lyft, our mission is to get them where they need to go efficiently and affordably. Kansas City is ideal for testing out new transportation concepts. I’m so glad Transit selected Kansas City to launch this new feature.”

In addition to allowing users to plan trips that merge a car ride with public transportation, Transit is also now including multiple ridehail operators, such as Uber and Lyft. This helps ensure that users can see all the ways to get around, reducing waiting times and allowing them to compare their options for connecting to transit.

“Our mission at Transit is to make it easy to get from a to b without your own car,” said Jake Sion, Transit COO. “By connecting Uber and Lyft seamlessly with RideKC transit service, we’re promoting ridehail as a vital first- and last-mile link to reduce congestion, rather than worsen it. Today’s announcement brings the future of transportation closer to reality in Kansas City.”

In the near future, Transit’s multimodal trip planner will also begin suggesting trips that combine transit with other options that users can already find in the app to take short trips, like bikeshare.

Transit+ is in Beta, so it’s rolling out to a limited number of markets, including Kansas City, because of the support of agencies like KCATA.