KCATA, Alphapointe Rolling Out New Transit App for Visually Impaired
The RideKC Navigator mobile app is a custom platform to help individuals with vision impairment or blindness navigate select transit stops.
by METRO Staff
October 28, 2020
The RideKC Navigator mobile app is a custom platform to help individuals with vision impairment or blindness navigate select transit stops.
Screenshot via KCATA
2 min to read
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), in partnership with Alphapointe and Sensible Innovation, developed a wayfinding app to help blind and visually impaired transit customers use transit more safely and accurately. It is the first application of its kind to be applied to an entire transit corridor in the U.S.
The RideKC Navigator mobile app is a custom platform to help individuals with vision impairment or blindness navigate select transit stops. Anyone can download the free RideKC Navigator app on their mobile device (iOS and Android) to receive location-specific audio instructions to help navigate 51 bus stops, East Village Transit Center, 75th Street Transit Center, and 31 intersections in Kansas City, MO.
Ad Loading...
The project, which was developed as part of KCATA’s Prospect MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 10-mile corridor project runs from the 75th and Prospect Transit Center at Alphapointe, north on Prospect to 12th Street, and west along 12th Street into downtown Kansas City.
“Our partnership with Alphapointe was critical to the testing and deployment of RideKC Navigator,” said Robbie Makinen, KCATA president and CEO. “Our visually impaired experts at Alphapointe navigate the real world on a daily basis. Their help in orientation and mobility instructions, testing and tutorials was invaluable.”
Alphapointe is the largest employer of blind and visually impaired people in Missouri, and one of the largest in the nation, according to Reinhard Mabry, president and CEO of Alphapointe.
“This app will open up the community to people who are blind,” Mabry said. “It will prepare people who have visual impairment to navigate spaces and areas of the community that they may not have been comfortable with previously because they didn’t know enough about their surroundings.”
Key points along the Prospect MAX route include East Village Transit Center at 12th & Charlotte with connections to multiple bus routes, Independence plaza, ReDiscover Crisis Center, East Patrol Division Station, Linwood Shopping Center, Research Medical Center and 75th Street Transit Center at Alphapointe.
Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
Step inside AMF Bruns of America’s 41,000-square-foot facility in Stow, Ohio, where expanded manufacturing capacity, modernized operations, and a focus on next-generation mobility solutions are shaping the company’s growth in accessible transportation.
With expanded production space, local investment, and a growing workforce, AMF Bruns is scaling its U.S. presence. Here’s an exclusive look inside the new Stow, Ohio, HQ.
The station was rebuilt as part of SEPTA’s Station Accessibility Program, making it fully ADA accessible with new elevators, ramps, and high-level platforms.
Nadine S. Lee, who has served as president/CEO since July 2021, said the decision comes after careful reflection on the agency’s progress and its path forward.
What truly drives the cost of a paratransit fleet? Beyond the purchase price, seven operational factors quietly determine maintenance frequency, downtime, and long-term service reliability. This whitepaper explores how these factors shape lifecycle cost and what agencies should evaluate when selecting paratransit vehicles.
The new HARTPlus SUVs — 2025 Ford Interceptor Utility models — represent a significant step toward modernizing mobility and enhancing service for paratransit riders throughout Hillsborough County.
