In ceremonies Sept. 27, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) joined the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS, in ceremonies to open the KCK Midtown MetroCenter along the State Avenue corridor. The facility officially opened for service two days later.

This event marked the culmination of “State Avenue Connex,” a $13 million infrastructure investment along that corridor. The investment corresponds with improvements to bus routes serving Wyandotte County.

KCATA designed the new facility to ease transferring and wait times between its system, The Metro, and ­Unified ­Government Transit. Additional improvements include an 11,000-square-foot building that will feature a four-sided clock tower and house the Kansas City, KS, Police Department’s (KCKPD) Midtown Patrol Division, offices of the Area Agency on Aging’s mobility management services, and space for a range of transit and community activities.

Officials expect that the improvements will help spur economic development.

KCATA General Manager Mark Huffer said: “The new $5.5 million KCK Midtown MetroCenter will become a hub for regional transit and economic development. Through a partnership with the Unified Government, MARC, Area Agency on Aging, and the KCKPD, this project is one of the most significant regional transit investments made to date.”

The agency, in partnership with the Unified Government, has already made other improvements to the 14-mile State Avenue corridor, which begins  in downtown Kansas City, MO and travels through downtown Kansas City, KS. Funding came from federal, regional, and local sources.

Dick Jarrold, KCATA senior director of system development, talks about the features of the new Medtown MetroCenter at ceremonies Sept. 27.