Severe Weather

Snow, Ice and Winter Weather 

When winter weather hits, safety is our no. 1 concern. Buses may experience delays or need to use alternate routes during severe weather. RideKC Freedom paratransit service may also be affected by winter weather. Check this website or call 816-221-0660 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the latest information about how conditions are impacting transit.

Tune into local news broadcasts for announcements of service delays. Track your bus on the app Transit.

Sign up for RideKC Notify to get service notifications from RideKC via text, or email.

Find current information on social media or in the passenger bulletin section of our website.

Social media

Kansas City region: Twitter @RideKCTransit - Facebook 
Johnson County, Kan.: Twitter @jocotransit - Facebook 
Kansas City, Kan.: Twitter @UGTransit - Facebook 
Kansas City Streetcar: Twitter @kcstreetcar - Facebook

Travel Tips

• Use caution getting on and off buses, and walking to the stop. In winter, thawing and refreezing may occur; even if pavement looks clear, it may be icy.
• Dress for the weather.
• Carry a cellphone.

Snow Reroute Plans

Each RideKC transit agency in the Kansas City area has its own snow plan whenever wintry conditions require rerouting normal service.

KCATA: See below (For Paratransit snow plan, see here.)
 

The reroutes listed below are common problem spots during inclement weather. Make sure you are familiar with them before severe weather hits. These routes may have to be rerouted. Conditions may make additional reroutes and or delays necessary. RideKC will communicate this information through social media, local news media, ridekc.org, and RideKC notify. RideKC Freedom service may also be affected by winter weather.

Routes affected by Snow Plan

Check the list to see if your route is part of the Snow Reroute Plan. 

9 9th Street: Buses will continue south on Hardesty to Truman Rd., to Ewing if 12th St. is impassible between Ewing and Winchester.

11 Northeast-Westside. Buses will take Summit to 17th Street, 17th to Broadway, Broadway to Southwest Blvd. (resume route at Summit and Southwest Blvd).

12 12th Street. At the western end of the route buses will take 12th to Jefferson, Jefferson to 8th, and 8th to Pennsylvania. Buses will take 12th to Hardesty, Hardesty to Truman, Truman to Van Brunt, Van Brunt to 17th, and 17th back to Hardesty. 

18 Indiana. Buses will use 68th St. between Cleveland and Jackson instead of 68th Terr.

23 23rd Street. Buses will not travel to Blue Valley Court Townhouses. Instead, eastbound buses will enter Blue Valley Park from 23rd & Topping, circle and return to regular route at 23rd and Topping.

24 Independence: Buses will continue east on 8th St to Charlotte., if Locust is impassible.

31 31st Street. Buses will use 40 Hwy. to Sterling Ave. Buses will not use Pittman Rd. in either direction, nor travel through Stonegate Meadows Apts.

35 35th Street: Buses will continue south on Van Brunt if Hardesty between 31st and 35th is impassible.

39 39th Street: Buses travel eastbound to Wabash, to 38th St., to Prospect to 39th St., and layover at 39th and Prospect if 39th is impassible due to the incline.

47 Broadway. Eastwood Hills buses will use 51st St. between Eastwood Trafficway and Sni-A-Bar Rd., if Ararat is impassable. Near St. Lukes Hospital, buses will continue sout hon Boradway to 47th St. if Wyandotte is not passable.

63 63rd Street: Buses will continue on 63rd St. between Manchester and Winchester due to the incline.

 

RideKC Flex Snow Pick-up & Drop-off Plan

During bad weather, road conditions may not allow RideKC Flex to reach certain parts of a service area. Travel may be restricted to major streets. Customers may need to go to a major street to catch RideKC Flex. During inclement weather, call the RideKC Flex office at 816-346-0346 to check travel restrictions. RideKC Flex will reflect system-wide delays with the same Inclement Weather Plan as RideKC Freedom and Micro Transit.

Areas where buses may not be able to travel:

298 NKC Flex 
Sunny Hills Apartments
French Quarters to Clark Ferguson

 

Park & Rides and Transit Centers

If you are a park & ride customer, please be aware that KCATA crews clear some of the park & rides while others are cleared by the property owners. KCATA crews will be out long before rush hour on heavy snow days to make sure the following park & rides are cleared as quickly as possible.

Antioch Crossing Park & Ride, Kansas City, Mo
Gregory & Wornall, Kansas City, Mo
75th & Wornall, Kansas City, Mo
75th & Prospect Transit Center at Alphapointe, Kansas City, Mo 
Boardwalk Square Transit Center, Kansas City, Mo
31st & Troost, Kansas City, Mo
3-Trails Transit Center, Kansas City, Mo
Independence Transit Center, Independence, Mo
Mission Transit Center, Mission, Ks
Heartland Community Church, Olathe, Ks
JCCC, Overland Park, Ks
KU Edwards Campus, Overland Park, Ks
137th & Antioch, Overland Park, Ks
Oak Park Mall, Overland Park, Ks
66th & Hilltop, Shawnee, Ks
Shawnee Station, Shawnee, Ks
Lawrence College and Career Center, Lawrence, Ks

 

 

Inclement Weather Advisory for Paratransit and Micro transit Services
RideKC Freedom (and SWIFT- JoCo only), RideKC Freedom on Demand, RideKC Iris, RideKC Micro Transit

During severe winter weather, RideKC prioritizes the safety of our passengers and operators. Please be aware of the following:

Service Impacts

• Delays and Suspensions: Paratransit and microtransit services may experience delays or suspensions when road conditions become unsafe. Service adjustments often begin when roads are ice-covered or when snowfall exceeds 3 inches.
• Reduced Service Areas: In extreme conditions, service may be limited to main roads and critical areas only.
• Notification Process: Service suspensions or delays will be communicated through the RideKC website, social media channels, and the RideKC app.

Path of Travel Requirements

• Clear Path Required: Customers must ensure that all paths of travel to and from the vehicle are cleared of snow and ice.
• Driver Assistance: Drivers are unable to assist with snow or ice clearing.
• Ride Refusal: Customers may be refused service if they cannot safely access the vehicle due to uncleared paths.

Notifications and Updates

• Stay Informed: Check the RideKC website, social media channels, or the RideKC app for real-time updates on service status.
• Phone Lines: Due to high call volumes during severe weather, phone lines may be busy. For faster assistance, use online tools for trip updates.

Safety First

• Allow Extra Time: Travel may take longer during inclement weather.
• Be Prepared: Dress warmly and ensure safe access to pickup and drop-off locations.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to provide safe and reliable service during challenging weather conditions.