Peer Cities Transit research for the Kansas city metropolitan area. September 30, 2010

Transcription

1 Peer Cities Transit research for the Kansas city metropolitan area Mid-America Regional Council Transportation Department September 30, 2010

2 2 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

3 Table of Contents Executive Summary Purpose Contents Comparisons Significant Findings Metropolitan Statistical Areas Kansas City Metropolitan Area Johnson County, Kan. Travel-to-Work Characteristics... 8 Transportation Authorities... 9 Transportation Authority Characteristics Transportation Authority Finances Peer Cities Peer City Locations Transportation Authority Services Transportation Authority Funding Kansas City, Mo. Johnson County, Kan. Atlanta, Ga. Cincinnati, Ohio Dallas, Texas Denver, Colo. Indianapolis, Ind. Louisville, Ky. Milwaukee, Wis. Minneapolis, Minn. Salt Lake City, Utah St. Louis, Mo. Regional Comparisons Population Density Public Transit Ridership Transit Authority Comparisons Service Area Ridership Finances Per Capita Statistics Performance Measures PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 3

4 Executive summary Purpose For a number of years, the Kansas City region has struggled to define and advance a long-term strategy for supporting the development, expansion, and financing of regional transit. The Mid- America Regional Council (MARC) created this report to support work by Johnson County s Transit Funding Task Force (START) committee, as well as to assist in ongoing discussions regarding the development of a strategy for regional transit investment in Kansas City. Contents This report provides a brief overview of transit service in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. It also compares Kansas City and its two largest transit agencies Johnson County Transit (The JO) and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) to 10 metropolitan areas around the country and their primary transit agency; the purpose is to provide a better frame of comparison between regional transit investment, ridership, and modes of service. The metropolitan areas utilized for comparison are hereafter referred to as peer cities and include: Atlanta, Ga. Cincinnati, Ohio Dallas, Texas Denver, Colo. Indianapolis, Ind. Louisville, Ky. Milwaukee, Wis. Minneapolis, Minn. Salt Lake City, Utah St. Louis, Mo. Glossary A list of acronyms and key terms along with their definitions can be found in the back of this document on pages MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

5 Comparisons For the purpose of this report, the Kansas City regional transit system is defined using data from the 2008 National Transit Database (NTD) which includes data about the KCATA inclusive of Unified Government transit statistics and from The JO. Additional data was obtained from the 2000 U.S. Census, , American Community Survey (ACS), and annual financial/strategic reports of each transit agency. Throughout this report KC Region refers to the grouping of data from the KCATA and The JO Statistical comparisons in the report include: Transit services/modes provided Population Density Service area Ridership Expenses Sources of revenue/funding Service efficiency Significant findings Demand for public transportation in Kansas City has steadily increased over the years as indicated by an increase in annual ridership (14 percent), vehicle revenue miles (9 percent), and vehicle revenue hours (15 percent) over an eight-year period from Despite this, Kansas City, Mo. and its metropolitan area rank last amongst peer cities in terms of public transit ridership-to-work levels. Additionally, Kansas City provides fewer modes of transportation services than a majority of the peer cities. Both the low ridership levels and comparatively fewer transportation options in Kansas City can be explained by the region s density (population per square mile) patterns. While both its city and metropolitan area contain moderate levels of population compared to peer city averages, they both rank last in terms of density. This is important because public transportation relies upon specific density thresholds to support higher modes of transit services, as well as for route locations. Furthermore, this can explain why both KCATA and The JO have higher operating expenses per passenger trip and lower service efficiencies compared to the transit agencies in Peer Cities. Lastly, the report indicates a correlation between regional transit investment and ridership. Both KCATA and The JO rank below average in terms of total operating funding compared to the peer cities transit agencies; consequently, Kansas City region s annual ridership levels rank below average. The Kansas City region invests $84 per capita in annual transit operations compared to the $145 per capita average of the peer cities, which represents only 58 percentof the average total investment by the peer cities. PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 5

6 Metropolitan statistical areas Metropolitan Areas are areas surrounding large and densely populated cities or towns; they contain a core area with a large population nucleus and have adjacent communities with a high degree of economic and social integration to their core. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are metropolitan geographic entities that contain a city with a population of at least 50,000 inhabitants and a total population in their region of at least 100,000. Kansas city metropolitan area The Kansas City Metropolitan Area (also referred to as the Kansas City MSA) is a 15-county metropolitan area covering the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. Kansas City, Missouri is referred to as the Principal City of the Kansas City MSA because it is the largest city in the region by size, and most influential in terms of economic and social activity. The Kansas City MSA is represented in the figure below according to 2000 U.S. Census MSA boundaries. Kansas Franklin Johnson Leavenworth Linn Miami Wyandotte Missouri Bates Caldwell Cass Clay Clinton Jackson LaFayette Platte Ray Kansas City, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) CLINTON CALDWELL PLATTE LEAVENWORTH CLAY RAY FRANKLIN $ WYANDOTTE JOHNSON MIAMI LINN KANSAS MISSOURI JACKSON CASS BATES 70 LAFAYETTE Miles City boundary and highway data created by MARC and city and county governments; all other data provided by ESRI and/or Tele Atlas North America, Inc. 6. MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

7 Johnson county, kansas Johnson County is located in northeast Kansas along the Kansas-Missouri state border. Johnson County is contained within the Kansas City MSA and lies directly southwest of downtown Kansas City, MO. Because this report was created at the request of Johnson County s START Committee, special attention will be paid to this area throughout this report. PLATTE COUNTY CLAY COUNTY RAY COUNTY LEAVENWORTH COUNTY WYANDOTTE COUNTY JACKSON COUNTY KANSAS MISSOURI JOHNSON COUNTY MIAMI COUNTY CASS COUNTY PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 7

8 Travel-to-work characteristics The following charts and graphs display travel-to-work characteristics for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and Johnson County. For the purposes of this report, public transit refers to forms of public transportation including bus or trolley bus, streetcar or trolley car, subway or elevated train, railroad, ferryboat or taxicab. Other means to work includes working at home, motorcycling, bicycling, walking, or other means to travel to work besides car, truck, van or public transportation. Travel-to-Work Characteristics kansas city metro johnson county Total Workers 881, ,908 Drive Alone 84% 87% Carpool 10% 7% Public Transit 1%.30% Other 5% 6% Source: census.gov [Census 2000 Sample Data] Kansas City Metro Travel-to-Work Characteristics Johnson County Travel-to-Work Characteristics Public Transit 1% Carpool 10% Other 5% Public Transit.3% Carpool 7% Other 6% Source: census.gov [Census 2000 Sample Data] Drive Alone 84% Source: census.gov [Census 2000 Sample Data] Drive Alone 87% Note: Travel-to-work statistics for public transit in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area may appear to be low in comparison to the other modes of service. This is due to the large U.S. Census geographic delineation for the Kansas City MSA, which includes several rural counties well outside of access to public transportation service routes. Additionally, public transit statistics via the 2000 U.S. Census is limited to work-related trips, and doesn t account for other trips such as those taken for recreational purposes. 8 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

9 Transportation Authorities The following provides a brief overview of the two largest transit agencies providing services within the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. This includes the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and Johnson County Transit (The JO). Transportation Authority Characteristics KCATA is a public transit operator and bi-state agency created by a compact between Kansas and Missouri in The transit agency s jurisdiction contains seven Kansas City Metropolitan Area counties including Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte. The JO was established in 1982 and is the public transit operator of Johnson County, Kan. The transit agency has 22 local bus routes in four Kansas counties including Douglas, Johnson, Miami and Wyandotte. The following charts display service area and ridership characteristics for KCATA and The JO, as well as ridership, vehicle revenue mile, and vehicle revenue hour characteristics for the two transit agencies over an eight-year timeframe from KC Region refers to the grouping of KCATA and The JO information together. Kansas City Metropolitan Area KCATA The Jo KC Region Annual Passenger Miles 68,423,430 9,786,220 78,209,650 Service Area Square Miles Population 781, ,455 1,043,614 Annual Ridership 17,194, ,986 17,820,783 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 9

10 Annual Ridership Annual ridership Year KCATA The Jo KC Region ,193, ,332 15,585, ,587, ,950 16,021, ,754, ,926 15,170, ,551, ,819 13,971, ,385, ,348 13,754, ,095, ,275 14,506, ,806, ,216 15,202, ,417, ,092 15,907, ,194, ,986 17,820,783 20,000,000 15,000,000 10,000,000 5,000, Annual Vehicle Revenue Miles Annual Vehicle Revenue Miles Year KCATA The JO KC Region ,178,695 1,395,718 12,574, ,185,576 1,426,138 12,611, ,490,651 1,393,371 11,884, ,157,006 1,380,215 11,537, ,574,941 1,371,769 11,946, ,100,692 1,486,993 12,587, ,666,385 1,422,527 13,088, ,997,645 1,666,672 13,664, ,921,419 1,725,531 13,646,950 15,000,000 12,000,000 9,000,000 6,000,000 3,000,000 0 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] Annual Vehicle Revenue Hours Annual Vehicle Revenue Hours Year KCATA The JO KC Region ,264 80, , ,923 78, , ,264 72, , ,804 76, , ,164 76, , ,208 77, , ,737 79, , ,583 90, , ,028 92, ,761 1,000, , , , , Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] 10 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

11 Transportation Authority Finances The following displays financial information for KCATA and The JO including funding expended from local, state, and federal sources which are defined below. Kansas City Metropolitan Area KCATA The JO Regional Fare Revenues Earned $11,365,250 $1,195,992 $12,561,242 Funds Expended Total % Total % Total % Fare $11,392,258 14% $1,195,992 14% $12,588,250 14% Local $47,981,301 61% $3,242,849 39% $51,224,150 59% State $906,790 1% $1,567,482 19% $2,474,272 3% Federal $16,049,447 20% $2,152,083 26% $18,201,530 21% Other $2,761,995 3% $226,423 3% $2,988,418 3% Total $79,091,791 99% $8,384, % $87,476, % Capital Funds Expended Total % Total % Total % Local $2,398,952 19% $502,895 22% $2,901,847 19% State $0 0% $0 0% $0 0% Federal $10,268,512 81% $1,766,000 78% $12,034,512 81% Other $0 0% $0 0% $0 0% Total $12,667, % $2,268, % $14,936, % Characteristics Density per Square Mile 1,963 1,944 1,958 Ridership per Capita Fare Revenues per Capita $15 $5 $12 Total Funds per Capita $101 $32 $84 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] Other 3% KCATA Expenses Fare 14% Other 3% The JO Expenses Fare 14% Local 38% Federal 20% State 1% Local 62% Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] Federal 26% State 19% Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 11

12 The following chart and graph display fare revenue characteristics for KCATA and The JO transit agencies over an eight-year timeframe from Note: Fare Revenue refers to its definition on page 6. KC Region refers to the grouping of KCATA and The JO information together. Fare Revenues Year KCATA The JO KC Region 2000 $8,092,230 $553,211 $8,645, $8,651,704 $603,599 $9,255, $8,026,878 $549,141 $8,576, $7,269,758 $592,970 $7,862, $7,448,172 $618,317 $8,066, $7,713,408 $680,932 $8,394, $9,326,273 $775,855 $10,102, $10,132,628 $919,747 $11,052, $11,365,250 $1,195,992 $12,561,242 (in millions) Source: ntdprogram.gov [ National Transit Database] Peer Cities Several metropolitan regions and their transportation authorities were selected for comparison to the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and Johnson County; these regions are referred to as peer cities. They were selected based on their regional size & density compared to the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The following peer cities, their primary transit agency (i.e., the largest transit agency in their region in terms of service area and annual ridership) serving their metropolitan and locations in the United States include: Atlanta,Ga....Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Cincinnati, Ohio...Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA/Metro) Dallas, Texas...Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Denver, Colo.... Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) Indianapolis, Ind....Indianapolis and Marion County Public Transportation (IndyGo) Louisville, Ky.... Transit Authority of River City (TARC) Milwaukee, Wis.... Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) Minneapolis, Minn.... Metro Transit Salt Lake City, Utah...Utah Transit Authority (UTA) St. Louis,Mo....Bi-State Development Agency (Metro) Kansas City, Mo....Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) Johnson County, Kan....Johnson County Transit (The JO) 12 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

13 Transportation Authority Services Transit agencies provide several different modes of transportation to a city, metropolitan area, or region s residents; this may include bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, or heavy rail services. The following table displays the transportation services provided by the primary transit agency of each peer city: Regional Transportation Authorities Region Bus Paratransit Light Rail Commuter Rail Heavy rail Atlanta X X X Cincinnati X X Dallas X X X X Denver X X X Indianapolis X X Louisville X X Milwaukee X X Minneapolis X X X X Salt Lake City X X X X St. Louis X X X Kansas City X X Johnson County X X Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] Transportation Authority Funding The following chart displays financial information and sources of funding for KCATA, The JO, and the primary transit agencies serving the peer cities for comparison. Note: The regions listed in the following figure refer to the particular transit agency listed on page 11 of this report; and the sources of funding described do not include revenues from local passenger fares or funds through federal assistance (ARRA funds, FTA funds, capital grants, or other operating funds). PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 13

14 Regional Transportation Authority Sources of Funding Region Body Source Amount Dedication Atlanta City of Atlanta, GA Fulton County, GA DeKalb County, GA Sales and Use Tax 1% MARTA transit services Cincinnati City of Cincinnati, OH City Earnings Tax.3% Metro transit services Dallas Denver 13 Member Cities (27 Cities opted-out) 8 County District (40 Cities) Indianapolis Marion County municipalities Sales Tax 1% DART transit services Sales and Use Tax 1% Property, Excise, and Local Option Income Taxes Louisville Jefferson County, KY Occupational Tax.2% Light rail expansion -.6% RTD base tax and.4% FasTracks sales and use tax $22,842,141 (2009) IndyGo transit services TARC transit services via the Mass Transit Trust Fund (MTTF) Milwaukee Milwaukee County, WI Sales Tax 1% Transit, parks, and emergency medical services Minneapolis State of Minnesota Salt Lake City St. Louis Kansas City Johnson County Salt Lake County Motor Vehicle Sales Tax $140,700,000 State General Fund $70,600, % Davis County.55% Weber County.55% Local Option Sales Tax Utah County.526% Box Elder County.55% Tooele County.3% City of St. Louis, MO Sales Tax St. Louis County, MO Sales Tax St. Clair County, IL Sales Tax City of Kansas City, MO Sales Tax 1/4 Cent 1/2 Cent 1/4 Cent 1/2 Cent Metro transit services UTA transit services Metro transit services Metro transit services & road and bridge repair within county Allotment $44,000,000 annually Metro transit services 1/2 Cent 3/8 Cent State of Missouri Allotment $850,000 annually Johnson County, KS General Revenues $5,500,000 (2008) KDOT Comprehensive Transit Program (CTP) Allotment 1/4 Cent MetroLink light rail - Capital projects, operating 1/2 Cent and maintenance costs $1,300,000 annually Transit services Transit services 14. MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

15 Kansas City, Missouri The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is a public transit operator and bi-state agency created by a compact between the States of Missouri and Kansas and approved by the United States Congress in 1965; it started operations in KCATA s district or jurisdiction contains seven counties in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area including Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte. Kansas City, MO is the primary provider of all transit funding (59 percent) for KCATA services. In 1971, the City initiated a ½ cent transportation sales tax. In 2004, the City implemented an additional 3/8 cent sales tax for KCATA services. The State of Missouri provides an annual allotment of $850,000; however, that amount has steadily declined in recent years (was $767,710 for the fiscal year). Body Source Amount Dedication City of Kansas City, Mo. Sales Tax 1/2 Cent Sales Tax 3/8 Cent Transit services State of Missouri Allotment $850,000 annually Source: KCATA.org PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 15

16 Johnson County, Kansas Johnson County Transit (The JO) was created in 1982 and is a public transit operator in Johnson County, Kan. The JO has 22 local bus routes in four Kansas counties including: Douglas, Johnson, Miami, and Wyandotte. Johnson County provides the majority of funding for The JO from general revenues, whcih amounted to $5.5 million in The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) provides state funding through the Comprehensive Transportation Program (CTP); this amount is $1.3 million annually. Body Source Amount Dedication Johnson County, Kan. General Revenues $5,500,000 (2008) Transit services KDOT CIP Allotment $1,300,000 annually Source: Johnson County Transit Strategic Plan MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

17 Atlanta, Georgia The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) was formed in 1971; it was originally proposed as a rapid transit agency for the five largest metropolitan Atlanta Counties DeKalb, Fulton, Clayton, Gwinnett, and Cobb but a referendum by the Georgia General Assembly authorizing participation was not passed in Cobb County. MARTA began operating its bus services in 1972 and in 1979 MARTA expanded its transit services to heavy rail. In 1971, Fulton and DeKalb Counties successfully passed a 1 percent sales tax increase to pay for operations while Clayton and Gwinnett rejected. Today MARTA operates almost exclusively in Fulton and DeKalb Counties. Body Source Amount Dedication City of Atlanta MARTA transit Fulton County, Ga. Sales and Use Tax 1% services DeKalb County, Ga. Source: MARTA 2009 Annual Report PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 17

18 Cincinnati, Ohio The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is a government entity and independent political subdivision of the State of Ohio governed by a 13-member volunteer citizen s board of trustees; SORTA is also the public transit agency serving Cincinnati, Ohio and its suburbs. SORTA was originally the Cincinnati Transit Commission who provided bus services from 1952 to 1973, until it was renamed in Metro is SORTA s fixed route bus service serving Hamilton County residents along with commuter trips from Clermont, Warren, and Butler counties into Cincinnati. Access paratransit service is also provided for people whose disabilities prevent them from riding Metro buses. Metro is funded primarily by Cincinnati s city earnings tax, which stands in contrast to other Ohio transit agencies which are primarily funded by sales tax. The portion of Cincinnati s earnings tax going to Metro s budget is approximately 0.3 percent. UrbanCincy.com Body Source Amount Dedication City of Cincinnati, Ohio City Earnings Tax.3% Metro transit services Source: Go-Metro.com 18 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

19 Dallas, Texas Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) was created in 1983 as a regional replacement for Dallas publicly owned mass transit service. When DART was created, citizens of 15 metropolitan area cities voted to levy a 1 percent sales tax within their jurisdictions to join DART. Today there are 13 cities (including Dallas) that are members of DART. Twenty-seven of the 40 eligible cities have opted-out of DART membership. publicbroadcasting.net Body Source Amount Dedication 13 Member Cities (27 Cities opted-out) Sales Tax 1% DART transit services Source: Dallas Area Rapid Transit 2006 Annual Report PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 19

20 Denver, Colorado The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) was created by the Colorado legislature in 1969; today it includes 15 Director s Districts, eight counties, and 40 cities in the Denver Metropolitan Area. In 1973, residents voted for a ½ percent sales tax throughout six of the counties served by RTD for ten years. Twenty percent of this was to be used for expanded bus service. In 2004, voters of RTD passed a FasTracks ballot initiative that raised the sales tax rate from 0.6 percent to 1 percent, with the requirement that the portion attributable to the additional 0.4 percent be used to fund the FasTracks transit expansion program. The 1 percent sales and use tax rate is levied in all eight RTD counties. The state of Colorado is responsible for collecting and processing all RTD sales tax revenues, and it retains a small amount of sales tax revenues to cover its incremental costs. The maximum amount vectorsite.net Body Source Amount Dedication 8-County District (40 Cities) Sales and Use Tax 1% Light rail expansion -.6% RTD base tax and.4% FasTracks sales and use tax Source: RTD 2010 Adopted Budget 20 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

21 Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis and Marion County Public Transportation (IndyGo) is the public transit system operator for the City of Indianapolis and Marion County. IndyGo began operations in 1953 under the name MetroBus; eventually the city of Indianapolis took control over all citywide public transportation in 1975, and the name IndyGo was adopted in Today, IndyGO operates 28 fixed bus routes with some 5,000 stops. IndyGo is funded by property, excise, and local option income taxes by the municipalities throughout Marion County. Metro-Magazine.com Body Source Amount Dedication Marion County municipalities Property, Excise, and Local Option Income Taxes $22,842,141 (2009) IndyGo transit services Source: IndyGo 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 21

22 Louisville, Kentucky Transit Authority of the River City (TARC) is the major public transportation provider for the Louisville metropolitan area which includes parts of southern Indiana. TARC provides bus services to three Kentucky counties including Jefferson, Oldham, and Bullitt, as well as to the Indiana suburbs of Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany. In 1974, Louisville voters approved a referendum allowing for an occupational tax to fund the city s mass transit. Today, TARC operates a fleet of 240 buses, providing transit services along 52 routes. TARC is publically funded by a Jefferson County 0.2 percent occupational tax which has been in effect for over three decades; this generates approximately $40,000,000 annually. The funds are deposited into the Mass Transit Trust Fund (MTTF). downtowndevelopmentcorp.org Body Source Amount Dedication Jefferson County, Ky. Occupational Tax.2% TARC transit services via the Mass Transit Trust Fund Source: 2008 TARC Long Range Plan 22 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

23 Milwaukee, Wisconsin The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is a county-run agency that was formed in MCTS is a partner of the Southeast Wisconsin Transit System, a joint-venture transit partnership that also includes the Waukesha Metro Transit public transit agency and five others. In 2008, Milwaukee County residents voted for a 1 percent sales tax to support MCTS. Besides funding transit services, this sales tax also supports parks and emergency medical services. Facebook.com/RideMCTS Body Source Amount Dedication Milwaukee County, Wis. Sales Tax 1% Transit, parks, and emergency medical services Source: Milwaukee County Transit System 2009 Annual Report PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 23

24 Minneapolis, Minnesota Metro Transit was established in 1976 by the Minnesota State Legislature and is the transit division of the Metropolitan Council, a regional governmental agency in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. In 2001, the Minnesota legislature ended the use of property taxes as a revenue source for transit operations in the metro area and replaced it with the State Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST). Today, Metro Transit receives the majority of its funding from the MVST and the State General Fund. T4America.org Body Source Amount Dedication Motor Vehicle Sales Tax $140,700,000 Metro transit State of Minnesota State General Fund $70,600,000 services Source: Metropolitan Council 2009 Twin Cities Transit System Performance Evaluation 24. MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

25 Salt Lake City, Utah The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) is the public transit system operator for the Salt Lake City, UT region. UTA s service area is over 1,400 square miles and includes six counties: Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah and Weber. The UTA name and transit district was publicly incorporated in 1970, but its origins can be traced back to 1953 when several bus companies in the Salt Lake City area combined into a singular organization. Salt Lake City s population growth, congestion, and successful bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics led to the development of light rail for the region, which became operational in Also in 2002, UTA purchased a segment of track from Union Pacific for a commuter rail line; service began in UTA is funded by local option sales tax revenues collected in each of the six counties that UTA operates within. cityweekly.net Body Source Amount Dedication Salt Lake County.6875% Davis County.55% Weber County Local Option Sales.55% Utah County Tax.526% UTA transit services Box Elder County.55% Tooele County.30% Source: UTA 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 25

26 St. Louis, Missouri The Bi-State Development Agency (METRO) was created in 1940 through a compact between Missouri and Illinois and ratified by the United States Congress. The city of St. Louis an independent city, not residing within the jurisdiction of or associated with St. Louis County and St. Louis County fund transit services with a ½ cent and ¼ cent local sales tax. Both the city and the county appropriate all of their receipts from the ¼ cent sales tax to Metro. The city of St. Louis appropriates virtually all of its revenues from the ½ cent sales tax to Metro. St. Louis County splits revenue collected from the ½ cent sales tax between Metro and funding road and bridge projects within the county. St. Louis County also appropriates approximately $44 million to Metro every year (at least 2 percebntof this must be used for transportation for developmentally disadvantaged persons). In 1995, St. Clair County, Ill. adopted a ½ cent sales tax to be dedicated towards MetroLink light rail capital projects, operating costs and maintenance costs. FTA.DOT.gov Body Source Amount Dedication City of St. Louis Sales Tax 1/4 Cent Sales Tax 1/2 Cent Metro transit services Sales Tax 1/4 Cent Metro transit services & road St. Louis County, Mo. Sales Tax 1/2 Cent and bridge repair within the county Allotment $44,000,000 annually Metro transit services Sales Tax 1/4 Cent MetroLink light rail - Capital St. Clair County, Ill. projects, operating and Sales Tax 1/2 Cent maintenance costs Source: Bi-State Development Agency 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 26. MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

27 Regional Comparisons Several metropolitan regions (referred to in this report as peer cities ) were selected for comparison to the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and Johnson County. The following compares demographic information and public transportation ridership characteristics of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and Johnson County to the peer cities. Included are graphical comparisons to provide a better frame of comparison between them. Population The following displays population characteristics for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Johnson County, and the peer cities for comparison. Metropolitan Area Populations Metropolitan Area Population Atlanta 5,251,889 Cincinnati 2,138,528 Dallas 6,150,828 Denver 2,454,378 Indianapolis 1,692,148 Louisville 1,231,989 Milwaukee 1,543,802 Minneapolis 3,197,225 Salt Lake City 1,095,103 St. Louis 2,803,854 Kansas City Metro 1,980,619 Johnson County 524,723 (in millions) Source: census.gov [ American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates] Johnson County Kansas City Metro St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta Principal City Populations Principal City Population % of MSA Atlanta 445,709 8% Cincinnati 299,577 14% Dallas 1,214,287 20% Denver 584,563 24% Indianapolis 794,211 47% Louisville 563,498 46% Milwaukee 582,819 38% Minneapolis 358,896 11% Salt Lake City 184,881 17% St. Louis 354,620 13% Kansas City, Mo. 435,825 22% Johnson County 524,723 26% Source: census.gov [ American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates] (in thousands) Kansas City, MO St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta Johnson County PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 27

28 Density The following displays population density characteristics for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Johnson County, and the peer cities for comparison. Metropolitan Area Densities Metropolitan Area Density per sq mi Atlanta 672 Cincinnati 520 Dallas 574 Denver 561 Indianapolis 456 Louisville 495 Milwaukee 1,028 Minneapolis 490 Salt Lake City 825 St. Louis 407 Kansas City Metro 329 Johnson County 946 Source: census.gov [Census Percent Data] Johnson County Kansas City Metro St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta Principal City Densities Principal City Density per sq mi Atlanta 3,161 Cincinnati 4,249 Dallas 3,470 Denver 3,617 Indianapolis 2,161 Louisville 4,125 Milwaukee 6,214 Minneapolis 6,970 Salt Lake City 1,666 St. Louis 5,623 Kansas City, Mo. 1,408 Johnson County 946 Source: census.gov [Census Percent Data] Johnson County Kansas City, MO St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta 28 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

29 Public Transit Ridership The following displays public transportation ridership levels for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, Johnson County, and the peer cities for comparison. Note: Public Transit Ridership refers to the percentage of total population that utilizes forms of public transportation to get to work. This includes bus or trolley bus, streetcar or trolley car, subway or elevated train, railroad, ferryboat, or taxicab. Metropolitan Area Public Transit Ridership to Work Metropolitan Area Atlanta 4% Cincinnati 3% Dallas 2% Denver 4% Indianapolis 1% Louisville 2% Milwaukee 4% Minneapolis 4% Salt Lake City 3% St. Louis 2% Kansas City 1% Metro Johnson County 0.3% Public Transit Ridership Source: census.gov [Census 2000 Sample Data] Principal City Public Transit Ridership Atlanta 15% Cincinnati 10% Dallas 5% Denver 8% Indianapolis 2% Louisville 7% Milwaukee 10% Minneapolis 15% Salt Lake City 6% St. Louis 11% Kansas City, Mo. 4% Johnson County 0.3% 4.0% 3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2.0% 1.5% 1.0% 0.5% 0.0% 15% 12% 9% 6% 3% 0% Johnson County Kansas City Metro St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta Principal City Public Transit Ridership to Work Source: census.gov [Census 2000 Sample Data] Johnson County Kansas City, MO St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 29

30 Transportation Authority Comparisons The following compares transportation authority characteristics and finances of KCATA and The JO to the primary transit agencies serving the peer cities. Included are graphical comparisons to provide a better frame of comparison between them. Service Area The following charts and graphs display service area characteristics for KCATA, The JO, and the primary transit agencies serving the peer cities. Note: Service Area refers to its definition on page 4. Region refers to the primary transit agency servicing the particular region (listed on page 8 of this report). KC Region refers to the grouping of KCATA and The JO information together. Transit Authority Service Area Region Service Area (sq mi) Atlanta 498 Cincinnati 262 Dallas 689 Denver 2,326 Indianapolis 373 Louisville 283 Milwaukee 487 Minneapolis 589 Salt Lake City 1,412 St. Louis 584 KCATA 398 The JO 135 KC Region 533 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta 30 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

31 Ridership The following displays ridership levels for KCATA, The JO, and the primary transit agencies serving the peer cities. Transit Authority Annual Ridership Region Annual Ridership Atlanta 150,912,988 Cincinnati 26,072,321 Dallas 67,390,127 Denver 101,175,756 Indianapolis 9,890,098 Louisville 15,593,412 Milwaukee 51,844,882 Minneapolis 81,835,735 Salt Lake City 41,713,708 St. Louis 53,675,790 KCATA 17,194,797 The JO 625,986 KC Region 17,820,783 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] (in millions) KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 31

32 Finances The following displays financial expenses for KCATA, The JO, and the primary transit agencies serving the peer cities, particularly funding expended from local, state, and federal sources. Fare Revenues Earned Region Fare Revenues Earned Atlanta $101,216,344 Cincinnati $30,465,924 Dallas $48,957,079 Denver $89,942,987 Indianapolis $10,286,990 Louisville $9,945,314 Milwaukee $48,927,796 Minneapolis $82,228,494 Salt Lake City $34,748,201 St. Louis $45,489,586 KCATA $11,392,258 The JO $1,195,992 KC Region 12,588,250 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] (in millions) $120 $100 $80 $60 $40 $20 $0 KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta Local Revenues Region Local Revenues Atlanta $271,509,795 Cincinnati $43,102,968 Dallas $362,411,682 Denver $237,570,026 Indianapolis $15,423,861 Louisville $41,985,461 Milwaukee $16,479,553 Minneapolis $5,731,001 Salt Lake City $0 St. Louis $137,858,361 KCATA $47,981,301 The JO $3,242,849 KC Region 51,224,150 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] (in millions) $400 $350 $300 $250 $200 $150 $100 $50 0 KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta 32 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

33 State Revenues Region State Revenues Atlanta $0 Cincinnati $2,050,445 Dallas $0 Denver $0 Indianapolis $11,335,477 Louisville $1,170,525 Milwaukee $67,281,260 Minneapolis $152,211,980 Salt Lake City $119,893,509 St. Louis $3,370,797 KCATA $906,790 The JO $1,567,482 KC Region $2,474,272 Federal Revenues Region Federal Revenues Atlanta $43,174,839 Cincinnati $10,530,166 Dallas $43,585,329 Denver $49,104,603 Indianapolis $14,039,849 Louisville $11,583,565 Milwaukee $21,110,292 Minneapolis $13,332,018 Salt Lake City $34,902,519 St. Louis $28,968,275 KCATA $16,049,447 The JO $2,152,083 KC Region $18,201,530 Total Funds Region Total Funds Atlanta $467,435,787 Cincinnati 89,925,076 Dallas $459,852,198 Denver 435,523,277 Indianapolis $53,659,360 Louisville $65,926,588 Milwaukee $161,428,014 Minneapolis $258,757,242 Salt Lake City 208,507,779 St. Louis $238,797,848 KCATA 79,091,791 The JO $8,384,829 KC Region $87,476,620 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] (in millions) (in millions) (in millions) $200 $150 $100 $50 $0 $50 $40 $30 $20 $10 0 $500 $400 $300 $200 $100 $0 KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH KC Region The Jo 33

34 Per capita statistics The following tables display per capita data for KCATA, The JO, and the primary transit agencies serving the peer cities. This includes service area densities, ridership, fare revenues, and total operating fund expenses. Kansas City Metropolitan Area KCATA The Jo Regional Density 1,96.3 1, ,958 Ridership per Capita Fare Revenues per Capita $15 $5 $12 Total Funds per Capita $101 $32 $84. Transit Authority Service Area Densities Region Density per sq mi Atlanta 3,162 Cincinnati 3,226 Dallas 3,489 Denver 1,126 Indianapolis 2,123 Louisville 2,667 Milwaukee 3,967 Minneapolis 2,990 Salt Lake City 1,235 St. Louis 2,671 KCATA 1,963 The JO 1,944 KC Region 1, Transit Authority Ridership per Capita 0 KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta 34. MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL Region Ridership per Capita Atlanta 96 Cincinnati 31 Dallas 28 Denver 39 Indianapolis 12 Louisville 21 Milwaukee 40 Minneapolis 46 Salt Lake City 24 St. Louis 34 KCATA 22 The JO 2 KC Region 17 Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta

35 Transit Authority Fare Revenues per Capita Region Atlanta $64 Cincinnati $36 Dallas $20 Denver $34 Indianapolis $13 Louisville $13 Milwaukee $37 Minneapolis $47 Salt Lake City $20 St. Louis $29 KCATA $15 The JO $5 KC Region $12 Fare Revenues per Capita Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] $80 $70 $60 $50 $40 $30 $20 $10 $0 $300 $250 $200 $150 $100 $50 $0 KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta Transit Authority Total Funds per Capita Region Atlanta $297 Cincinnati $106 Dallas $191 Denver $166 Indianapolis $68 Louisville $87 Milwaukee $123 Minneapolis $147 Salt Lake City $120 St. Louis $153 KCATA $101 The JO $32 KC Region $84 Total Op Funds per Capita Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] KC Region The Jo KCATA St. Louis Salt Lake City Minneapolis Milwaukee Louisville Indianapolis Denver Dallas Cincinnati Atlanta PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 35

36 Performance measures The chart on the following page displays service efficiency, cost effectiveness, and service effectiveness characteristics for KCATA, The JO, and the primary transit agencies serving their peer cities. The performance measures of each transit agency are displayed by mode of service and are listed side-by-side for comparison. The performance measure data was obtained through the 2008 National Transit Database (NTD); furthermore, the data was only available for transportation services determined by the NTD to have been operated by the specific transit agencies in maximum service and through capital funds during the year Data for service efficiency, cost effectiveness, and service effectiveness include operating expenses per vehicle revenue mile, vehicle revenue hour, passenger mile, and unlinked passenger trip; and unlinked passenger trips per vehicle revenue mile and vehicle revenue mile. 36. MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

37 Regional Transportation Authority Service - Bus Region Service Efficiency Cost Effectiveness Service Effectiveness Vehicle Revenue Mile Vehicle Revenue Hour Passenger Mile Unlinked Passenger Trip Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Mile Atlanta $7.16 $88.50 $0.90 $ Cincinnati $7.57 $99.27 $0.64 $ Dallas $8.56 $ $1.28 $ Denver $7.57 $ $0.74 $ Indianapolis $6.22 $90.70 $0.94 $ Louisville $6.83 $85.58 $0.92 $ Milwaukee $8.35 $ $0.88 $ Minneapolis $9.84 $ $0.72 $ Salt Lake City $6.47 $ $0.61 $ St. Louis $7.22 $97.30 $0.93 $ KCATA $7.84 $ $1.10 $ The Jo $5.00 $95.28 $0.57 $ Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Hour Average $7.39 $0.85 $0.85 $ Maximum $9.84 $ $1.28 $ Minimum $5.00 $85.58 $0.57 $ Std. Deviation Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 37

38 Regional Transportation Authority Service - Demand Response Region Service Efficiency Cost Effectiveness Service Effectiveness Vehicle Revenue Mile Vehicle Revenue Hour Passenger Mile Unlinked Passenger Trip Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Mile Atlanta $3.18 $56.07 $2.93 $ Cincinnati $4.09 $72.49 $3.08 $ Dallas $4.80 $88.20 $3.43 $ Denver $4.15 $61.29 $3.04 $ Indianapolis $3.20 $54.90 $2.76 $ Louisville $2.72 $43.20 $2.60 $ Milwaukee $4.73 $63.15 $3.33 $ Salt Lake City $6.45 $90.76 $3.64 $ St. Louis $4.18 $66.75 $3.00 $ KCATA $3.90 $76.37 $2.81 $ The Jo $4.67 $84.24 $3.24 $ Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Hour Average $4.19 $68.86 $3.08 $ Maximum $6.45 $90.76 $3.64 $ Minimum $2.72 $43.20 $2.60 $ Std. Deviation Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] 38 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

39 Regional Transportation Authority Service - Vanpool Region Service Efficiency Cost Effectiveness Service Effectiveness Vehicle Revenue Mile Vehicle Revenue Hour Passenger Mile Unlinked Passenger Trip Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Mile Dallas $0.69 $28.49 $0.07 $ Denver $0.50 $20.54 $0.12 $ Milwaukee $0.45 $20.20 $0.10 $ Salt Lake City $0.52 $23.55 $0.07 $ KCATA $0.75 $30.43 $0.15 $ Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Hour Average $0.58 $24.64 $0.10 $ Maximum $0.75 $30.43 $0.15 $ Minimum $0.45 $20.20 $0.07 $ Std. Deviation Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 39

40 Regional Transportation Authority Service - Light Rail Region Service Efficiency Cost Effectiveness Service Effectiveness Vehicle Revenue Mile Vehicle Revenue Hour Passenger Mile Unlinked Passenger Trip Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Mile Dallas $16.99 $ $0.59 $ Denver $4.43 $85.28 $0.31 $ Minneapolis $12.03 $ $0.39 $ Salt Lake City $9.42 $ $0.39 $ St. Louis $8.34 $ $0.39 $ Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Hour Average $10.24 $ $0.41 $ Maximum $16.99 $ $0.59 $ Minimum $4.43 $85.28 $0.31 $ Std. Deviation Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] 4.0 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

41 Regional Transportation Authority Service - Commuter Rail Region Service Efficiency Cost Effectiveness Service Effectiveness Vehicle Revenue Mile Vehicle Revenue Hour Passenger Mile Unlinked Passenger Trip Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Mile Dallas $35.87 $ $1.28 $ Salt Lake City $11.00 $ $0.47 $ Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Hour Average $23.44 $ $0.88 $ Maximum $35.87 $ $1.28 $ Minimum $11.00 $ $0.47 $ Std. Deviation Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] Regional Transportation Authority Service - heavy Rail Region Service Efficiency Cost Effectiveness Service Effectiveness Vehicle Revenue Mile Vehicle Revenue Hour Passenger Mile Unlinked Passenger Trip Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Mile Atlanta $6.83 $ $0.27 $ Unlinked passenger Trips per Vehicle Revenue Hour Source: ntdprogram.gov [2008 National Transit Database] PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 4.1

42 Glossary Acronyms ARRA...American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ACS...American Community Survey CTP...Comprehensive Transportation Program DART...Dallas Area Rapid Transit FTA...Federal Transit Administration IndyGo... Indianapolis and Marion County Public Transportation KCATA...Kansas City Area Transportation Authority KDOT...Kansas Department of Transportation MARC... Mid-America Regional Council MARTA... Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MCTS...Milwaukee County Transit System METRO... Bi-State Development Agency MSA...Metropolitan Statistical Area MTTF... Mass Transit Trust Fund MVST...State Motor Vehicle Sales Tax NTD... National Transit Database OE... Expenses RTD...Denver Regional Transportation District SORTA... Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority TARC... Transit Authority of the River City The JO...Johnson County Transit UPT...Unlinked Passenger Trip USDOT...United States Department of Transportation UTA...Utah Transit Authority UZA...Urbanized Area VRM... Vehicle Revenue Mile VRH... Vehicle Revenue Hour Definitions American Community Survey An ongoing nationwide survey by the U.S. Census Bureau that collects information such as age, race, income, commute time to work, home value, veteran status, and other important data. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act An economic stimulus package signed into law February 17, It supports government-wide efforts to stimulate the economy by preservation or creation of jobs and the promotion of an economic recovery as well as the investment in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure providing long-term economic benefits. Annual Ridership The number of annual unlinked passenger trips (this is the number of passengers who board public transportation vehicles every year; passengers are counted each time they board vehicles no matter how many vehicles they use to travel from their origin to their destination). Bus A transit mode comprised of rubber-tired passenger vehicles operating on fixed routes and schedules over roadway. 4.2 MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL

43 Capital Funds Financial funding to help cover the costs of equipment necessary to support transit services. Commuter Rail A transit mode that is an electric or diesel propelled railway for urban passenger train service consisting of local short distance travel operating between a central city and adjacent suburbs. Service must be operated on a regular basis by or under contract with a transit operator for the purpose of transporting passengers within urbanized areas (UZAs), or between urbanized areas and outlying areas. Comprehensive Transportation Program A strategic, long-range comprehensive program designed to address transportation challenges and funding strategies for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Density The population per square mile. Fare Revenues All income received directly from passengers, paid either in cash or through prepaid tickets, passes, etc. It includes passenger donations and the reduced fares paid by passengers in a user-side subsidy arrangement. Federal (Funds) Financial assistance obtained from either the federal government or Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Federal Transit Administration An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. Johnson County Transit A public transit operator serving Johnson County, KS; it has 22 local bus routes in four Kansas counties including Douglas, Johnson, Miami, and Wyandotte. Kansas City Area Transportation Authority A public transit operator and bi-state agency serving seven counties in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area including Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte (KCATA provides services to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County). Kansas Department of Transportation A state government organization in charge of maintaining public roadways of the State of Kansas. Kansas City Metropolitan Area A 15 county metropolitan area covering the border between the states of Missouri and Kansas. KC Region A combination of KCATA and The Jo s information (when referenced in transportation authority comparison sections). Heavy Rail A transit mode that is an electric railway with the capacity for heavy volume of traffic. Light Rail A transit mode that is typically an electric railway with a light volume traffic capacity. Local (Funds) Financial assistance from local entities. Mid-America Regional Council A nonprofit association of city and county governments and the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the bi-state Kansas City region. MARC provides transportation-planning services for seven counties Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte in Kansas; and Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte in Missouri. PEER CITIES TRANSIT RESEARCH 4.3