Olathe, Kan.-based Johnson County Transit (JCT) opened the Mission Transit Center, which will significantly enhance transit service in Johnson County and connect thousands of daily riders to jobs and other destinations in the Kansas City region.

The U.S. Department of Transportation provided $10.7 million for the project through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant program. The funding was part of a $50 million TIGER grant to revitalize key neighborhoods in Kansas City’s urban area and improve access to jobs throughout the region.

The Mission Transit Center is a new transportation hub that unites six bus routes serving riders in Mission and Overland Park, including JCT’s newly launched JO Connex bus service. The new center features electronic displays with real-time bus route information and covered outdoor seating for a more comfortable rider experience.

Johnson County Transit has been working in partnership with the Mid-America Regional Council and the cities of Overland Park, Mission and Roeland Park to implement the transit improvements, which also includes 15 new sheltered bus stations; traffic signal upgrades to keep buses moving through intersections; pedestrian access improvements; and park-and-ride facilities.

JCT operates a total of 16 bus routes throughout the county, serving a population of more than 550,000. It connects passengers to other transit services in the region, including the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and Unified Government Transit.

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