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Transit update: ridership rises, KCATA audit could reduce federal match rate
Summary
City traffic engineer Susan Berry told the Public Works Committee ridership on Lee's Summit's commuter express service has nearly doubled in 2025 and an on‑demand service operated by OATS continues to serve many seniors and riders with disabilities; she also reported an audit by KCATA may lower the city's federal 5307 match rate unless a remedy is found.
At the Dec. 8 Public Works Committee meeting, Susan Berry, Lee's Summit city traffic engineer, gave the city's annual transit update and flagged an audit finding with regional implications.
Berry said the city's express commuter service to downtown Kansas City and Crown Center — two morning trips (with a reverse commute between them) and two afternoon trips — has seen ridership nearly double in 2025 as more people return to office-based commuting. "Ridership has almost doubled in 2025," Berry said, pointing to recent data showing a substantial uptick compared with the prior four years.
She also described an on‑demand transit service operated by OATS that serves trips beginning and ending in Lee's Summit (and trips to University Health Lakewood). The service is door‑to‑door and requires advance reservations; Berry said fares are $3 per one‑way trip when the trip meets the service parameters and that roughly 60% of riders are seniors or people with disabilities. Berry characterized that program as an important option for residents who cannot drive.
In a significant administrative note, Berry described an audit involving the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and the city's use of federal 5307 funds. "KCATA had an audit regarding how we use our funds... they were saying that we were not using them properly... they'd only get, like, a 20% match," she said, adding that staff are exploring ways to preserve a 50% match and expect to provide more information. The city previously benefitted from higher match treatment; Berry said staff believe there are pathways to address the audit findings but did not provide a final resolution during the meeting.
Committee members asked whether city transit services include direct airport trips; Berry said current services are oriented to employment connections and that an airport shuttle would likely require a substantial public subsidy or regional coordination to be viable.
What this means: Ridership increases may affect future service planning and local budget considerations; the KCATA audit could change the federal match rate Lee's Summit receives for certain transit expenditures, potentially increasing local costs unless staff secure alternative arrangements.
Next steps: Berry said the city is working through potential fixes to the audit issue and will report back to the committee and council as details are settled.
