Metro Area Express

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This article is about the express bus network in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. For other uses, see Metropolitan Area Express.
Metro Area Express
Troost Avenue Max Line in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri
Overview
StatusOperating
LocaleKansas City Metro Area
Stations53 Currently
Service
TypeExpress bus service
Bus rapid transit
SystemKansas City Area Transportation Authority
Services2 Routes
4 Planned
Rolling stock28 Gillig Low Floor buses
Daily ridership2,155 (2020)
Ridership955,303 (2024)[1]
History
Opened24 July 2005
Technical
Line length32-mile (51 km)

The Metro Area Express (MAX) is an express bus service with bus rapid transit characteristics run by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

Its first line, on Main Street, was first operated on July 24, 2005; the second line, on Troost Avenue, opened on January 1, 2011; and the third line, on Prospect Avenue, opened on December 9, 2019.

MAX operates traditional bus service and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

MAX features dedicated lanes and special traffic signalization.

Lines

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Troost Avenue MAX (TMAX)

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The Troost Avenue MAX runs mostly on Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The line launched on January 1, 2011. It runs from Barney Allis Plaza located in Downtown Kansas City Missouri to 3-Trails Transit Center in Ruskin Heights, with two of every three runs short turning at 75th Street.

Prospect Avenue MAX (PMAX)

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The Prospect Avenue MAX runs mostly on Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The line runs from Barney Allis Plaza in Downtown KCMO to 75th and Prospect with a possible extension to Bannister and Drury. Cerner is redeveloping the old Bannister Mall site into an office park. The line began service on December 9, 2019.[2]

A bus at the southbound Union Hill/31st stop, on the Main Street MAX line, in 2016

Discontinued Lines

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Main Street MAX (MMAX)

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Main Max Line in RideKC red color

The Main Street MAX was a route that mostly ran along Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri. It ran from City Market in Downtown Kansas City, MO to the Waldo neighborhood. The line was inaugurated on July 24, 2005 and was in operation until October 19th, 2025 when it was replaced by the extension of the KC Streetcar to the UMKC campus.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "2024 Annual Agency Profile - Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (NTD ID 70005)" (PDF). National Transit Database. Federal Transit Administration. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  2. ^ Wall, Dia (December 6, 2019). "After years of planning, Prospect MAX launches Monday". KSHB News. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  3. ^ https://ridekc.org/bulletins/ridekc-bus-changes-effective-oct-19-2025-in-coordination-with-the-kc-streetcar-main-street-extension-opening