Transportation & Mobility
KC Spirit Play(data)book
3,420 Road Miles
To put this in perspective, US Route 20 is the longest road in the United States spanning 3,365 miles from Boston, MA to Newport, OR (FHWA).
At the core of the city’s transportation network lies a vast expansion of interstate highways, public streets, and private roads. As it is currently built, this network not only provides a means for vehicular travel around the area’s large footprint, but it also provides integral connections to all other modes of transportation–including pedestrian and public transit systems.
Source: FHWA Highway Stats 2018
The chart above illustrates miles of roadway per 1,000 persons. When comparing Kansas City to similar cities, it has the 3rd most miles per 1,000 persons, only behind Nashville and Tulsa. All aspirational cities have less roadway per 1,000 persons than Kansas City. Please note that this data is using Urbanized Areas as it's geography (not the city limits) so these numbers include neighboring suburbs for each metropolitan area.
Regional Economic Hub
Serving as a hub of employment for the regional labor market, workers from around the metro region are drawn into the city by the many employment opportunities available.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey
Of the population living in Kansas City, Missouri, 81% of workers 16 years and over commute to work by driving alone in an automobile. This is up from 78.7% in 2000. Meanwhile, the use of public transportation as a means of transportation to work decreased from 3.7% in 2000 to 2.8% in 2018 and working from home increased from 2.6% to 4.8%. This numbers do not account for the recent COVID-19 pandemic which could have a significant impact on the way people commute to work.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey
In comparing KCMO to the rest of the nation, as well as similar cities and aspirational cities, it has the highest percentage of workers 16 years old and over who drive alone to work. Also of note is that aspirational cities have 6.5% more workers using public transit for their commute and 3% more workers whom work from home.
Bike Facilities
25 miles of Major Separation, 24 miles of Minor Separation, and 154 miles of Shared Streets
Bikes are a major form of alternative transportation that ultimately play a vital role in offsetting some of the burdens associated with personal automobiles. While the majority of bike lanes are located on shared streets, separated bike lanes account for nearly a quarter of the total inventory. With this, the city continues to grow and enhance its bike road network in order to provide additional, safe options for all travelers.
2,207 Sidewalk Miles
The current level of connectivity is largely supported by a number of pedestrian friendly destinations or activity centers spread throughout the city.
Kansas City voters approved $800 million in General Obligation bonds in April 2017 to fund a capital improvements program for streets, sidewalks, flood control and other infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. As of May 10, 2019, the program has funded the repair of 79 blocks of sidewalks .
Automobile
Paseo Gateway
With 89% of the Kansas City, Missouri population commuting to work via driving alone or carpooling, automobile travel is still the predominant mode of transportation (American Community Survey). In comparing all urbanized areas in the country with at least 500,000 persons, Kansas City MO-KS ranks 6th in Miles of Roadway per 1,000 persons at 6.7 only behind Tulsa, OK, Nashville, TN, Birmingham, AL, Knoxville, TN, and Columbia, SC (Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2018 ) .
Road Expansion
1992 - 2019
Source: US Census Bureau, TIGER/Line Files
Note the increasing road presence in Northland and outlying suburban cities since 1992. The area is continuing to experience suburban expansion.
Road Conditions
Source: KCMO Public Works, 2017
Road Conditions are relatively well dispersed with generally good conditions north of the Missouri River and sub-par conditions scattered in South KC, Midtown, and the East side.
Road condition by Council District
Road conditions in Kansas City, Missouri.
Collector Streets
Source: Mid-America Regional Council, Connected KC 2050
As their name implies, Collectors "collect" traffic from Local Roads and connect traffic to Arterial roadways. Collector routes are typically shorter than Arterial routes but longer than Local Roads. Collectors often provide traffic circulation within residential neighborhoods as well as commercial, industrial or civic districts. ( FHWA, Highway Functional Classification Concepts, Criteria and Procedures )
Example of a collector streets Source: CDM Smith, FHWA
Means of Transportation to Work
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5 year estimates, 2014-2018
This map shows the total number of workers living in an area. Click on a Census Tract for a full breakdown of commute types.
The majority of Workers 16 years and over in households Drive Alone to work (81%).
Driving alone to work continues to be the predominant mode of transportation to work, increasing from 78.7% in 2000 to 81% in 2014-18. Working at home has significantly increased from 2.6% in 2000 to 4.8% in 2014-18.
Speed Limits
Source: KCMO Public Works
Number of Lanes
Source: City of Kansas City, MO Public Works
Average Annual Daily Traffic
Source: Missouri Department of Transportation, Average Annual Daily Traffic, 2017
As expected, daily traffic is highest on major arterials and highways. However, this data may be used to identify any outliers and serve as a starting point in traffic or accident analysis.
Major Street Plan
Typology
Source: KCMO Planning
The Major Street Plan shows the general alignment and classification of streets in an ultimate urban arterial network. The purpose of the Major Street Plan is to guide development of the arterial street network and to identify appropriate street rights-of-way to be secured at the time of subdivision platting. An update to the City’s Major Street Plan was completed in 2011. The plan addresses – in new ways and with much more flexibility – the capacity needs of the City’s major streets, as well as context-reflective, multi-modal street designs. The Street Typology Map identifies streets by typology. Each of the Street Typologies has a unique context and intent.
Legend for street typologies
Major Street Plan
Lanes
Source: KCMO Planning
The Through Lanes Map in the Major Street Plan indicates a range of capacities from two to six lanes.
Bridge Locations and Conditions
Source: Michigan Department of Transportation, Structural elements of a typical highway bridge
Good (G), Fair (F), Poor(P): These terms are defined in accordance with the Pavement and Bridge Condition Performance Measures final rule , published in January of 2017. Bridge Condition is determined by the lowest rating of National Bridge Inventory (NBI) condition ratings for Item 58 (Deck), Item 59 (Superstructure), Item 60 (Substructure), or Item 62 (Culvert). If the lowest rating is greater than or equal to 7, the bridge is classified as Good; if it is less than or equal to 4, the classification is Poor. Bridges rated 5 or 6 are classified as Fair.
Capital Improvement Projects Since 1995
Source: KCMO Planning
This data has been cataloged by the City Planning statistician since 1995.
For more details on current Capital Improvements Projects, see Capital Projects Division .
Transportation Improvement Program (2020 - 2024)
Source: Mid-America Regional Council
The TIP contains all major surface transportation projects planned to receive federal, state and local funding within the metro area that will be carried out in the next five years.
MARC develops the TIP by working cooperatively through its committee structure. MARC programming and policy committees include representatives from local jurisdictions, public transportation agencies, the Kansas and Missouri departments of transportation and other interested parties. Committee members are typically appointed by each participating jurisdiction or state agency and provide input for various MARC documents and recommendations for federally funded projects. Final authority for the adoption of the TIP rests with the MARC Board of DIrectors ( MARC ).
Bicycle
Cyclists traveling north on Grand Blvd
Kansas City, Missouri has 203 miles of existing bike lanes. Bicycling continues to be an attractive form of alternative transportation and exercise as environmental awareness increases. Kansas City recently completed a number of major bicycle infrastructure improvements, including Gillham Rd, Linwood Blvd, and Grand Blvd.
Existing Bike Facilities
Source: KCMO Planning
Bike lanes are maintained on a number of streets across the city–with the greatest concentration located south of the river.
Proposed Bike Facilities
Source: KCMO Planning
B-Cycle Locations
Source: MARC, BikeWalkKC
Example of BCycle shared bicycles
The bicycle share program in Kansas City is maintained and operated by BikeWalkKC .
The points on the map are bicycle share hubs and the colored shading shows trip density (July 2012 - June 2016). Some stations have been added since 2016 which is why there is no trip density near certain points.
Bicycling as a Means of Transportation to Work
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2014 - 2018 5 year estimates
Most of the city does not use a bicycle as their primary mode of transportation (note the red).
Bicycle Crashes
Source: KCPD 2016-2018
Yellow on the heat map indicates a higher concentration of accidents involving bicyclists. These occurrences more generally coincide with the availability of infrastructure and areas that experience a higher frequency of ridership.
Work in is progress via the Vision Zero strategy to "eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all." ( Vision Zero )
For more information on this topic, see this blog post from BikeWalkKC .
Pedestrian
There are 2,207 miles of sidewalks in Kansas City, Missouri. New sidewalks and improvements to existing sidewalks is continuous and assisted by programs like the General Obligation Bond program ( GO Bond KC ).
Sidewalk Conditions
Source: STANTEC, KCMO Public Works
In areas of fairly new development or high density, sidewalk conditions are relatively good. However, there is sporadic sidewalk coverage in the northland and southern portions of the city, and poor conditions are more ubiquitous on the east side.
Sidewalk conditions by Council District
Sidewalk Conditions
Source: STANTEC, KCMO Public Works
Here is a view of sporadic sidewalk coverage in the northland.
Sidewalk Conditions
Source: STANTEC, KCMO Public Works
There is also a major lack of sidewalks south of 75th Street and east of Swope Park. These areas were annexed starting in 1947.
GO Bond Sidewalk Projects
Source: City of Kansas City, MO Public Works
Question No. 1 on the April ballot called for approval of the issuance of $600 million in bonds to repair streets, bridges and sidewalks. One of the major selling points for residents was the promise to create a city-funded sidewalk repair program that would eliminate homeowner assessments. To that end, some $150 million is being dedicated to sidewalks.
This is a complete change in the way the City repairs sidewalks. The bonds create the revenue needed to allow the City to pay for residential sidewalk repairs, rather than charging homeowners. This program is going to systematically evaluate, repair and replace sidewalks. The goal is to make it through two citywide cycles over 20 years.
Sidewalk Demand Analysis
Source: KCMO Planning and Public Works
Approved by KCMO City Council in August 2017, the Systematic Sidewalk Inspection Program uses a data-driven points system to prioritize inspections and inventory the condition of sidewalks across KCMO.
Three design inspection contracts are currently underway to inspect 750 miles of sidewalk across KCMO in 2019-2020.
Percent of Households with No Vehicles Available
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2014 - 2018 5 year estimates
Red block groups indicate areas where a large share of households lack access to a personal automobile. As shown by the map, these areas largely persist in the city’s east side.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2018 1 year estimates
10% of occupied housing units within Kansas City, Missouri do not have a vehicle available. This is higher than the national average, but lower than similar and aspirational cities. This may be attributable to the lower share of workers using public transit in Kansas City (2.8%) compared to similar cities (4%) and aspirational cities (9.3%). Aspirational cities also have a higher percentage of workers walking to work, carpooling, using "other means" (taxi, motorcycle, bicycle), and working at home.
Activity Centers
Source: Mid-American Regional Council
Activity centers are places where people shop, work, live, recreate, learn and gather. The size, mix of land uses, and intensity of development in each activity center varies with the availability of land, access, surrounding development, transit services and other factors. Some centers surround an intersection; some are spread along corridors. Some are currently developing, while older centers are ready for redevelopment. Some centers serve only their surrounding neighborhoods, while others attract people from miles away. Activity centers are defined by the size and density of non-residential buildings. Activity centers are classified by intensity of development (population and employment density) and by level of walkability (diversity of land uses, proximity to transit, level of transit service, walkable road density, and density of destinations) Activity center boundaries and classifications are not valid at the site level. The data are used appropriately at the neighborhood to regional level. - MARC
Activity Centers and Sidewalk Conditions
In general, sidewalks located in activity centers yield more favorable conditions than residential neighborhoods or areas primed to receive less pedestrian traffic.
Activity Centers and Sidewalk ConditionsWestport
Westport is an area of Kansas City which displays some of the highest levels of activity. In these high activity areas, it's important to maintain walkable sidewalks.
Overall, the Westport area has Fair or Good conditions. Overlaying these conditions on top of Activity Centers, we can see that there are a couple blocks that suffer from Poor conditions. In this example, see Clark Ave.
Westport example
Here is an example of poor sidewalk conditions on Clark Ave in Westport. The above picture was taken from Google Streetview.
Crossroads
Here is another area of high activity - Crossroads. Poor conditions are more easily spotted here than in the previous example (Westport).
Brookside
Relatively good sidewalk conditions in Brookside with a couple blocks of poor conditions (E 62nd Ter and Main St between Meyer and 63rd)
Walkability Demand
Utilizing the City’s GIS information, each residential parcel within the entire City was analyzed to determine if there were employment opportunities within ¼ mile of the residential parcel. This analysis was also conducted to determine if the residential parcel was within ¼ mile of a commercial parcel, school, park, church, transit stop, medical facility, or public facility. Each category that was within ¼ mile of the residential parcel was counted, with employment and commercial parcels weighted based on the total area of those parcels within ¼ mile of the residential parcel. Based on a high and low count for all residential parcels, a graduated scale was identified for each residential parcel within the City. ( Kansas City Walkability Plan, 2003 )
Walkability Need
In general, it was found that approximately thirteen percent of all residential, commercial, and retail acreage within the City have a high walking facility need. Approximately forty percent have medium walking facility needs and approximately forty-seven percent have low walking facility needs. ( Kansas City Walkability Plan, 2003 )
Public Transportation
RideKC has 59 unique routes containing more than 835 miles as of July 2020.
The map below shows weekday bus routes by time of day. Click the time icon in the top left to enable the time slider. The map will begin to automate by time of day. You can also manually adjust the slider to look at a specific time period.
Note: This functions best on a PC (not mobile)
Bus Routes by Time of Day
Routes and Stops
Source: KCATA, January 2019
Shown by the sheer density of bus routes and stops, the area south of the river provides the greatest access and connectivity to public transit.
Park and Ride Locations
Source: MARC
Average Daily Ridership per Stop
Weekday July - December 2019
Source: KCATA
The highest frequency of bus transit ridership can be seen taking place on major thoroughfares traveling in and out of the downtown area.
Number of Trips Passing by Each Stop
The "Number of Trips Passing by Each Stop" map illustrates the number transit stops that occur at any individual location. This does not include ridership or frequency, but is a total for a specific time period. In this case, a weekday in 2019 from 12:01AM to 11:59PM was used. This is useful to identify corridors where there is heavy bus activity.
Tools used: Better Bus Buffers https://esri.github.io/public-transit-tools/BetterBusBuffers.html
Trips per Hour within 1/4 Mile of Stops
Similar to the "Number of Trips Passing by Each Stop" map, the "Trips per Hour within 1/4 Mile of Stops" map illustrates how many transit trips are available to a 1/4 mile service area around stops. The density of stops in an area matters to this analysis.
Notice how many trips per hour are shown in areas like the downtown loop. Because of the density of stops, a person can be within a 1/4 mile of multiple stops thus increasing the number of trips per hour.
Tools used: Better Bus Buffers https://esri.github.io/public-transit-tools/BetterBusBuffers.html
Streetcar
The Downtown KC Streetcar starter line has been envisioned as a beginning to the development of a comprehensive streetcar system for the Kansas City Region. The KC Streetcar runs through the heart of downtown and connects to Ride KC buses at either end of the route and at the 10th & Main Transit Center.
The Downtown KC Streetcar starter line is the first step in a longer-range plan to create a regional, integrated transit system to uniquely connect the Greater Kansas City area like never before. Progressive regions with streetcar systems have seen significant economic growth and the Downtown KC Streetcar starter line is a step in the effort to realize an even more vibrant, vital and livable urban center. Streetcar systems attract new residents, businesses and workforce and provide an improved and more efficient travel option. It is envisioned that the downtown KC Streetcar starter line will bring new investment and increased property values to downtown along with an increased economic impact during construction and after. ( KC Streetcar )
Smart Moves and Mobility Hubs
Source: MARC
Smart Moves is metropolitan Kansas City’s vision and implementation plan to enhance and expand regional transit and mobility services in the years and decades ahead. This plan serves as a guide for transit providers and local governments to implement transit and mobility services in a way that addresses some of our region’s greatest challenges and takes advantage of new opportunities. The plan’s concepts and recommendations lead to a bolder approach that is adaptive to the many distinct and diverse parts of the region, that inspires innovative solutions, and that leverages partnerships across sectors and disciplines. Smart Moves, an initiative that began nearly 15 years ago, builds on prior planning efforts and integrates common goals to ensure a high-functioning, seamless experience for the region’s residents and visitors, a healthy environment, a thriving economy, and a better quality of life for everyone. ( MARC )
NextRail
Potential Routes and Stations
Source: MARC
NextRail KC is a project initiated by the City of Kansas City, Missouri, in coordination with the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), and Jackson County to evaluate the potential impacts, feasibility, and cost of streetcar extensions in eight designated corridors. This project will prioritize future rail-transit investments, develop a longterm plan for an integrated streetcar system, and most importantly craft a path to implementation.
Microtransit Trips (Origin and Destination)
Source: KCMO Public Works, June 2018 - April 2020, Open Data
This dataset contains historical microtransit trips in Kansas City, Missouri on micro-transit devices. The dataset has been processed to protect anonymity by rounding the start and end points (latitudes and longitudes) to just three decimal places - creating a grid effect. The individual path of each trip is not published to protect privacy, just the beginning and end points of each trip. Additionally, the scooter vendor name is not included in this dataset to protect proprietary information from the participating companies.
The Origin latitude and longitude and Destination latitude and longitude were combined to create an "as the crow flies" line. This was done to see common routes taken by microtransit users.
The main thoroughfare for microtransit is generally the North South corridor from the Downtown Inner Loop to the Country Club Plaza. Other major hubs include Westport, Crossroads, UMKC, and River Market.
Air
Conceptual rendering of the new KCI terminal
Kansas City International Airport
A new airport is under construction
This project estimated at $1.5 billion, includes a 1 million-square-foot building, which is the largest infrastructure project in Kansas City history. It will include 42 gates with the ability to expand capacity to 50 gates in the future and a 6,300-space parking structure. The terminal is expected to be completed where the old Terminal A building once stood by early 2023 ahead of the NFL Draft, which will come to Kansas City in April and positions the City to host other large events into the future.
KCI Jobs and Enplanements
Source:FlyKCI, Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics
Job density near KCI airport
The jobs have been declining in recent years, whereas enplanements have stayed steady and recently begun to climb. This may be due to increasing automation and efficiency at the airport.
Passenger Enplanements by Airline
2018 Total: 5,935,645
2019 Total: 5,900,390
January to October 2020: 1,894,233
Southwest is KCI's top passenger airline by enplanements by a sizable margin - both in 2018 and in 2019. Enplanements have experienced a significant decline in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.
Enplanements by Airport
2001 - 2019
Source: FAA
Click on an airport for a breakdown of enplanements by year
Mail and Freight Tonnage
FedEx transports the most freight in terms of tonnage, whereas Delta transports the most mail.
Rail
Rail Nodes and Lines
Source: US Department of Transportation, April 15, 2020
In 2012, the Missouri Department of Transportation completed the Missouri State Rail Plan . The following maps show the existing passenger and freight demand and level of service, as well as projections for 2031. Of note is the Kansas City regions rail lines reach level of service grade F, which is described as "unstable flows; service breakdown conditions".
Use this legend to add clarity to the following maps.
Rail Nodes and Lines
Source: US Department of Transportation, April 15, 2020
Example of a major rail hub in the historic Northeast.
Amtrak Routes
Source: US Department of Transportation, April 15, 2020
Source: Rail Passengers Association
The Southwest Chief and the Missouri River Runner pass through Kansas City. Passenger rail volume in Missouri has stayed relatively stable from 2013 to 2019.
Water
The Bond Bridge over the Missouri River on I-29
Missouri River
Total Navigation Tonnage
Commercial and Waterway Materials freight volume has decreased since 1960, whereas Sand and Gravel has increased. Overall, there has been a decrease in freight volume.
Breakdown of commercial tonnage
Waterway Network Link Commodity Data - 2018
Source: US Army Corps of Engineers, National Waterway Network
The National Waterway Network (NWN) is a geographic database of navigable waterways in and around the United States, for analytical studies of waterway performance, for compiling commodity flow statistics, and for mapping purposes.
Click any point or line for a breakdown of tonnage by materials.
