Metro Kc Bus Schedule: Routes, Times & Stops

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RideKC Kansas City metro rider guide • 2026

Find the Right Kansas City Metro Bus Route, Time and Stop

A search for metro KC bus schedule usually means the RideKC regional transit network in the Kansas City metropolitan area. RideKC combines services from KCATA, Unified Government Transit and Johnson County Transit, with route-specific schedules, real-time vehicle information and regional trip planning.

This guide covers active RideKC routes, Kansas City airport service, fares that returned in June 2026, payment methods, live bus tracking, weekend and holiday service, Johnson County routes, service alerts and practical rider steps.

Find a Route Fare & Payment KCI Airport Bus Live Bus Times
Regional brand RideKC
Main providers KCATA + JoCo + Unified Govt
Regular single ride $2
Live information RideKC / Transit tools
Information checked October 2, 2026
Important search clarification

“Metro KC” Means Kansas City RideKC Here

This page covers Kansas City metropolitan-area bus service. It does not cover King County Metro in Seattle, which also uses the word “Metro.” In Kansas City, riders generally use RideKC routes operated by KCATA and partner agencies.

KCATA Kansas City, Missouri and core regional routes.
Unified Govt Kansas City, Kansas / Wyandotte County routes.
Johnson County JoCo routes including Metcalf, Quivira and K-10 services.
KC Streetcar Regional connection, but currently fare-free and separate from the paid bus fare system.
Rider micro-guide

How to Find the Correct RideKC Bus Time

1
Choose route Search by route number or route name.
2
Select service day Weekday, Saturday or Sunday where available.
3
Match direction Check destination or inbound/outbound description.
4
Find timepoint Use the timetable stop closest to your boarding point.
5
Recheck live Use real-time tracking before leaving.
Browse active routes

RideKC’s active-route list shows provider, service days, schedule PDF and real-time link.

Browse RideKC routes
Interactive route schedules

Select a route and trip to see the route on a map and review scheduled departures.

Open RideKC schedules
Trip Planner

Useful when you know the origin and destination but do not know which route to take.

Open RideKC Trip Planner
Timepoint rule: a timetable lists specific major stops. If your stop is between two published timepoints, use real-time information or the trip planner rather than treating the nearest printed time as your exact arrival.
Active route examples

Useful RideKC Routes to Know

RideKC currently lists routes operated by KCATA, Unified Government and Johnson County. Service days vary by route; many major KCATA routes run seven days, while some routes operate only weekdays or weekdays plus Saturday.

Prospect MAX

Prospect MAX

MAX-style service on the Prospect Avenue corridor. RideKC currently lists weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules plus a real-time tracking option.

Schedule Real Time
9

9th Street

RideKC lists Route 9 with weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules. Check current alerts before boarding because route-specific notices can appear in the live schedule system.

Schedule Real Time
39

39th Street

Route 39 is listed with weekday, Saturday and Sunday service. Use the route page for current direction, timepoints and real-time vehicle location.

Schedule Real Time
50

Brookside-Main

RideKC currently lists Route 50 with weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules, making it one of the useful core Kansas City routes for seven-day planning.

Schedule Real Time
71

Prospect

Route 71 is currently listed with weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules. Check Prospect MAX as well because both services may be relevant depending on your exact stop.

Schedule Real Time
201

North Oak

Route 201 serves the North Oak corridor and is currently listed with weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules.

Schedule Real Time
229

Boardwalk–KCI

Direct airport-oriented route connecting downtown/East Village, Northland stops, Boardwalk Square and Kansas City International Airport. It runs weekday, Saturday and Sunday.

Route 229 Real Time
401

Metcalf–Plaza

Johnson County route connecting the Metcalf corridor and regional destinations. Use RideKC’s current route system for its service-day details and live trip information.

Schedule Real Time
510

K-10 Connector

Johnson County service between Overland Park and Lawrence. RideKC announced that regular fall-semester service resumed August 24, 2026.

Schedule Real Time
KCI airport micro-guide

Route 229 to Kansas City International Airport

RideKC describes 229 Boardwalk–KCI as a direct connection between the Northland and Kansas City International Airport, with connections at Boardwalk Square Transit Center and East Village Transit Center.

Typical Route 229 travel path
1East Village 211th / Grand 3Broadway 4Prairie View 5Boardwalk 6Ambassador 7KCI Terminal
Weekday first downtown trip Current timetable shows East Village Bay C departures beginning at about 5:49 AM toward KCI.
Approximate full ride A weekday trip shown leaving East Village at 5:49 AM reaches KCI at 6:43 AM — about 54 minutes scheduled.
Typical frequency Much of the published Route 229 timetable operates at roughly hourly intervals, but exact times vary by trip and day.
Airport planning: allow more time than the scheduled ride itself for walking through the terminal, checking luggage, security and potential traffic delays. Verify Route 229 live information immediately before leaving downtown.

Open current Route 229 schedule and real-time map

Fares returned June 1, 2026

RideKC Bus Fare and Payment

RideKC bus service operated fare-free for several years. Starting June 1, 2026, fares returned across KCATA, Johnson County Transit and Unified Government Transit. KC Streetcar remains fare-free at this time.

Single Ride $2 Regular fare

Reduced fare is currently listed at $1 for eligible riders.

Daily Fare Cap / Day Pass $4 Regular maximum

Reduced daily amount is listed at $2 for eligible riders.

Weekly Fare Cap / Pass $20 Regular amount

Reduced weekly amount is listed at $10.

30-Day Fare Cap / Pass $62.50 Regular amount

Reduced 30-day amount is listed at $31.25.

Tap to Pay Contactless Card or mobile wallet

RideKC states that onboard readers accept eligible contactless payment; cards are tapped, not inserted or swiped.

Cash on the bus Not accepted Current 2026 rule

RideKC states that cash is not accepted onboard buses under the new fare system.

Fare capping: RideKC says riders using the same eligible tap-to-pay method can automatically stop accumulating charges after reaching the daily, weekly or 30-day fare-cap amount.

Check current RideKC fares and payment options

Real-time bus information

Scheduled Departure vs Live RideKC Arrival

RideKC’s official route tools provide schedules, maps and real-time information. The Transit app is also used to plan trips, view nearby departures, track vehicles and distinguish live predictions from scheduled arrivals.

1
Open route tool Search the route by number or name.
2
Choose direction Confirm inbound/outbound or destination.
3
Select stop Find the stop closest to where you are boarding.
4
Look for real time Live predictions may be visually distinguished from timetable-only times.
5
Recheck Refresh close to departure.
Prediction warning: real-time arrival information is still an estimate. Traffic, detours, construction, weather, events or vehicle-location data can change the displayed arrival.
Open RideKC Real-Time Routes
Alerts checked October 2, 2026

Current RideKC Alerts Can Change Your Stop or Route

RideKC’s current alert system includes long-term construction reroutes and shorter event-related notices. Riders should check the official alerts page immediately before travel because individual routes may be detoured while the rest of the network operates normally.

I-70 Improvement Project Current RideKC alerts list construction reroutes affecting Routes 18 Indiana and 27 27th Street through the project period.
18th Street Bridge construction Current alert information lists a reroute involving Route 402 Johnson-Quivira and Route 118 8th Street.
Short-term events First Friday, downtown events, weather and other temporary conditions may create route-specific detours or stop changes.
Do not assume this article is a live status board. Alerts can be added or removed after publication. Always use RideKC’s official service-alert page for your travel date and route.
Check current RideKC service alerts
Weekday vs weekend

Not Every Metro KC Route Runs Seven Days

Route example Weekday Saturday Sunday Rider note
Prospect MAX Yes Yes Yes Seven-day schedules are listed.
9 – 9th Street Yes Yes Yes Check route-specific alerts.
21 – Cleveland-Antioch Yes Yes Not listed Do not assume Sunday service.
229 – Boardwalk-KCI Yes Yes Yes Useful seven-day airport service.
550 – Lee’s Summit Express Yes Not listed Not listed Weekday-only route in current list.
Weekend planning rule: if Saturday or Sunday is not explicitly listed for your route, do not assume the weekday timetable applies. Use the active-route page for that specific route.
Holiday service

Kansas City Holiday Bus Schedules Vary by Provider

RideKC states that Kansas City, Missouri bus routes provide service every day of the year. On several major national holidays, buses on major routes operate a Sunday schedule. Johnson County service has different holiday rules.

Kansas City, Missouri Major-route buses use Sunday schedules on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Johnson County RideKC’s rider guide states that Johnson County bus and Micro Transit service do not operate on several major national holidays listed by the agency.
Special routes University and commuter routes such as the K-10 Connector can also follow academic or seasonal operating periods.
Check the provider: because RideKC is regional, a holiday schedule in Kansas City, Missouri does not automatically apply to Johnson County or every partner service.
Regional system

Who Operates Metro KC Bus Service?

KCATA Operates many core Kansas City routes including Prospect MAX, 9th Street, 39th Street, Brookside-Main, North Oak and Boardwalk-KCI.
Unified Government Operates Kansas City, Kansas / Wyandotte County routes shown in the same RideKC system.
Johnson County Transit Operates routes such as 401 Metcalf-Plaza, 402 Johnson-Quivira, 403 Antioch-Olathe, 404 Metcalf-Downtown and 510 K-10 Connector.
Why this matters: provider affects service days, holiday rules and local operating details even though routes are presented through the regional RideKC brand.
Metro planning visual

Think Regionally When Planning RideKC Trips

RideKC spans both sides of the state line and multiple transit providers. Downtown Kansas City, East Village, Boardwalk Square, Kansas City International Airport, Johnson County, Kansas City, Kansas and regional transfer points can require different route families.

  • Confirm whether your trip is in Missouri or Kansas.
  • Identify the route provider.
  • Check the correct service day.
  • Confirm any transfer between providers.
  • Use the same payment method for fare capping when eligible.
  • Check real-time information after every transfer.
KCK KC KCI JoCo East
Orientation visual only. Use RideKC’s official interactive route system for actual streets, stops, trip times and live vehicles.
Automatic service alerts

RideKC Notify Can Send Route Alerts to Your Phone

RideKC Notify sends service notifications by text, email or voice message. The service includes weather advisories, delayed service, holiday announcements, reroutes, service changes and other rider notices.

General subscription Text ridekc to 816.685.8541 or use RideKC’s subscription page.
Route-specific alerts Many route codes use “ridekc” plus the route number, such as ridekc24 or ridekc401.
MAX and special service Special codes are used for services such as Prospect MAX, Freedom and KC Streetcar.

Open RideKC Notify instructions

Before you leave

Metro KC Bus Boarding Checklist

  • Confirm the route number and route name.
  • Check whether KCATA, Unified Govt or JoCo operates it.
  • Select weekday, Saturday or Sunday correctly.
  • Match the bus direction or destination.
  • Use the exact stop or timetable timepoint.
  • Check a real-time vehicle prediction.
  • Review service alerts and construction reroutes.
  • Have an accepted contactless payment method ready.
  • Do not expect cash to be accepted onboard.
  • For airport trips, allow extra time beyond the bus schedule.
Official rider resources

Official RideKC Tools Worth Bookmarking

Routes in Service

Current active routes, providers, service days, timetable PDFs and real-time links.

Open routes
Interactive Schedules

Select a route and trip to view schedule information and route map context.

Open schedules
RideKC Trip Planner

Plan a trip from origin to destination when you do not know the route number.

Plan a trip
Fares & Passes

Current 2026 fares, reduced fares, fare capping and contactless payment information.

Open fares
Route 229 Boardwalk-KCI

Airport timetable, timepoints, map, real-time information and current alerts.

Open Route 229
Service Alerts

Current reroutes, construction, detours and temporary service notices.

Open alerts
RideKC Notify

Subscribe to service alerts by text, email or voice notification.

Open Notify
RideKC Rider Guide

Holiday service, mobile-app guidance, severe-weather information and other rider resources.

Open rider guide
FAQs

Metro KC Bus Schedule FAQs

Where can I find the Metro KC bus schedule?

Use RideKC’s Routes in Service page or its interactive schedules site. Select the route, service day and direction, then use real-time information for your stop.

Is Metro KC the same as King County Metro?

No. This guide covers RideKC in the Kansas City metropolitan area. King County Metro is a separate transit system serving the Seattle region.

How much is a RideKC bus fare in 2026?

RideKC currently lists a $2 regular single ride, $4 daily cap/pass, $20 weekly cap/pass and $62.50 30-day cap/pass. Reduced fares are available to eligible riders.

Can I pay cash on a RideKC bus?

No. Under the fare system that began June 1, 2026, RideKC states that cash is not accepted onboard buses. Riders can use eligible contactless payment or supported mobile/pass options.

Which RideKC bus goes to Kansas City International Airport?

Route 229 Boardwalk-KCI provides direct service to Kansas City International Airport and connects with East Village Transit Center, Boardwalk Square and Northland stops.

How long does Route 229 take from downtown to KCI?

A current weekday timetable example shows a 5:49 AM departure from East Village reaching KCI at 6:43 AM, about 54 minutes scheduled. Actual trip time can change with traffic and operating conditions.

Does RideKC operate on weekends?

Many KCATA routes operate Saturday and Sunday, but not every route does. Some routes list weekday and Saturday only, while certain express routes are weekday-only.

Does RideKC run on holidays?

Kansas City, Missouri major routes operate Sunday schedules on several major national holidays, while Johnson County service has different holiday rules. Check the RideKC rider guide for your provider.

How do I track a RideKC bus in real time?

Use RideKC’s interactive route system or the supported Transit app. Select the route and direction, then review real-time vehicle or arrival information for your stop.

How do I get notified about RideKC delays and reroutes?

RideKC Notify provides text, email or voice notifications for delays, reroutes, weather advisories, holiday schedules and service changes. Riders can subscribe generally or use route-specific codes.

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