On March 6th, 2025, Jason Waldron, Transportation Director for the City of Kansas City, MO, sitting alongside Frank White III and Tyler Means from the KCATA, announced that the recommendation of city staff is to reintroduce “functionally free fare” and to terminate the IRIS On-Demand microtransit program.
KCATA is reportedly facing a $28.0 million budget gap, leaving between 75 and 175 ATU Local 1287 workers’ jobs on the chopping block, resulting in a potential 1/3rd, roughly, reduction in the union’s total membership. Reducing bus services in any way would result in a significant blow to poor and working-class people in the region, beyond just the union members. If KCATA is to avoid cutting routes, service and staff, it would need $117.1 million to maintain the status quo.
KCATA has run out of COVID funds, having spent $6 million last year, $16.3 million in 2022-2023, and $26.0 million in 2023-2024. The organization expects to receive only $71 million from Kansas City, MO in the 2025-2026 budget, but many transit activists and the union are urging for an increase to that number.
“Many of my residents would be devastated if routes were cut,” said Councilman Darrell Curls, emphasizing his opposition to the cutting routes and discussing the blow it would have on working-class communities on the east side of the city.
IRIS reportedly received $9.1 million in funding from 5/1/2024 to 4/30/2025, but ending IRIS would free up $7.6 million that could be contributed to KCATA’s budget shortfall.
“We absolutely have to find a solution here,” said Councilman Crispin Rea, adding that he and Councilman Eric Bunch have submitted a budget amendment to redirect $2 million in money from the city’s LED program to the KCATA from the Public Mass Transit tax.
It is unclear what “functionally free fare” would look like exactly, but it does mean that fares would come back for many riders. “Functionally free fare” could mean free fare for people under certain income thresholds, experiencing certain hardships, students, elderly, or more. This would be determined by Kansas City, MO’s city council. “Functionally free fare” would reportedly generate millions for the KCATA and result in less expenditures on security costs, but could result in a drop in ridership and a change in “ridership profile.”
Ending free fare is favored by ATU Local 1287, but opposed by a number of pro-transit activist groups. To bring fare back, it would take 8-12 months to get the system up and running again.
Frank White III emphasized that they understand the city is not satisfied with the quality of service from the KCATA, but that under his tenure the organization has made notable strides towards more equitable and fair service and more transparent operations.
The city ended up going into closed session for well over an hour to discuss their relationship with KCATA.
Tristin Amezcua-Hogan is the Editor of The Labor Beacon and a member of LIUNA Local 264. Tristin also serves as the Director of Communications for the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO and the Chair of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance.
Tristin grew up as the son of a UA Local 669 member in Tecumseh, KS and the great-nephew of George C. Amis, longtime leader of the United Rubberworkers (now USW Local 307) in Kansas. Growing up in rural Kansas as the child of teen parents, Tristin quickly came to appreciate the life-changing benefit of a union job.
Tristin and his partner, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are residents of the Westside, Kansas City, MO's historic Mexican neighborhood. They are proud members of Kansas City's New Reform Temple.
