Zero Fare is at risk, and we need your help to save it!

KCATA is at it again.... We showed up in December to demand Zero Fare Forever, supported by 20+ bus riders and hundreds of emails but they have put Zero Fare up for a vote again at this week’s meeting. KCATA thinks that we're not serious and we're going to show them that we won't stop till we get Zero Fare Forever. Join us at the KCATA Board of Commissioners meeting to demand Zero Fare Forever.

This Wednesday, the CEO of the KCATA (Kansas City Area Transit Authority) will be recommending that their Board begin the process to reinstitute fares on KC’s buses. If KCATA approves this decision, it will lead to major harms for poor and working class bus riders, while providing practically no benefits for bus service. We need to let KCATA know that we won’t let them take away Zero Fare without a fight!

Send an email to the Board of Commissioners and KCATA CEO Frank White III with our toolkit! Emails received by 8 am on Wednesday, January 24th will be put into the public record at the Board of Commissioners meeting.

Over the last few months, we have talked to hundreds of bus riders, and we have heard one thing over and over again: Zero Fare is one of the few things riders like about KCATA’s service right now.

• KCATA’s own survey data (source, pg 22) has found the same thing: 93% of respondents were in favor of keeping Zero Fare! If KCATA votes to remove Zero Fare, they will be ignoring the voices of the bus riders they are supposed to be serving.
• KCATA’s studies on bringing back fares show that it will cost at least $6.5 million to implement, but could only bring in $5.8 million in revenue.
• Given that KCATA’s annual budget is $121 million, this additional revenue will be little more than a drop in the bucket. But KCATA estimates that it could reduce ridership by a whopping 33%.
• Why should poor and working-class bus riders, who already pay into our bus service through regressive sales taxes, be forced to double-pay to access all of these services?

We're sending emails AND showing up in person at the Board of Commissioners meeting. Join us on Wednesday, January 24 at 12pm at their office - 1200 E 18th St, KCMO. RSVP here.

We deserve a bus system that is safe, reliable, effective, and most of all, FREE! Just like other public services - libraries, schools, fire departments - buses should be free for everyone to use. Now is the time for the people of KC to stand up and defend one of the few free public services we have!