Johnson County directs staff to pursue $2M MARC grant to pilot KCI'Overland Park airport shuttle ahead of World Cup 2026

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners directed staff to bring forward acceptance of a $2,000,000 Mid America Regional Council (MARC) grant to fund a pilot airport shuttle connecting Kansas City International Airport (KCI) with the Overland Park Convention Center and Lenexa City Center in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Transit staff presented draft service concepts, cost estimates and funding sources and sought board direction to pursue the MARC grant. Josh Powers of Johnson County Transit described an airport pilot envisioned to run with four vehicles in service (six total including spares) at 20-minute headways, roughly 18 hours per day (5 a.m. to 11 p.m.). Staff estimated the pilot's operating cost at about $10,000 per day and said the MARC board had approved a $2,000,000 grant for airport service support.

Powers and staff explained the county previously authorized pursuing a lease of up to 50 35-passenger vehicles; leasing all 50 would cost about $1,500,000 in total and is priced at about $8,000 per unit per month. For a separate circulator…