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Council adopts 'Transportation for All' plan as residents press for restored bus service
Summary
The Independence City Council approved a policy document called the Transportation for All plan (Resolution 25‑715) on March 3, 6‑1, while multiple residents urged action to restore fixed‑route bus service that stopped earlier this year.
The Independence City Council voted 6‑1 on March 3 to adopt a Transportation for All plan intended as a high‑level policy guide for future street and multimodal projects.
Councilmember Vaught said she would vote yes but expressed reservations about some elements, saying she “does not fully endorse every aspect of the plan” and was concerned the narrowing of some streets could cause congestion and safety issues. The resolution passed 6 in favor, 1 opposed.
Multiple public commenters described how the loss of local fixed‑route bus service has affected daily life. Adam Cone, who said his address is 16807 East Larkspur Lane, told the council the city’s bus service stopped on Jan. 1 and that without it “my personal vehicle has stopped working” and he now walks 30 to 45 minutes to get to work. Brandon Davis, a resident in a transitional living program, said the shutdown “has affected me greatly” and removed employment opportunities he had in Kansas City.
Renee Roby said she spent about $500 on alternate transportation since fixed routes stopped and described difficulty using the paratransit scheduler: “I chose Independence because I didn't want to live downtown... What can I do to get the public transportation running?” Mary Tackett, who identified herself as a Teamster Local 41 volunteer and nonresident speaker, urged the council to press regional partners for funding, saying transit restored jobs and activity.
City Manager’s remarks clarified the planning document’s role: it is “largely a planning document that will guide the city's philosophical approach” and specific projects will return for public input. He also noted the fixed‑route system was operated under contract by First Transit and that restoring full service would require roughly $3.5 million next year, growing to about $6 million by 2027.
Council members and staff said the plan will be used as an overlay to consider all travel modes when resurfacing or rebuilding corridors; project‑level public engagement will follow during implementation.
Residents seeking help with transportation problems were asked to contact the city manager’s office so staff can follow up on individual service issues.
