The 63rd street corridor, and more specifically the Landing sits at an important conglomeration of intersecting transit lines. This abundance of transit infrastructure allows many of those without vehicles that live in the area access to many of the jobs to the north along the main street corridor. Figure 1 above separates these transit routes by peak period frequency, where the red lines also are known as Kansas City’s bus rapid transit (MAX) arrive at a frequency of every ten minutes. The red line along Prospect Avenue is the newest MAX line currently being installed and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2019.

Taking a regional approach to these connections, figure 2 shows the ability of those living in the 63rd street corridor to reach other parts of the Metro area. This connectedness is seen in both the abundance of vertically and horizontally moving routes and the access to Bruce R. Watkins (US 71) Highway almost exactly a mile from the 63rd and Troost intersection. Interestingly enough, the Landing was built before the placement of 71 highway, showing the area is even more connected than when it was first designed. However, looking at figure 2 again, there are empty spaces of white, meaning that that area does not exist within a quarter mile or walkable distance from a KCATA bus stop. Within the 63rd Street corridor, there are several gaps the most detrimental being the one in between the 55th and 63rd, Paseo and Prospect lines, just west of 71 highway and just northeast of the Landing. This is an area with strong usage of the bus routes and this gap strongly inhabits the populations ability to use this abundant transit.

When thinking about the current transit conditions of this corridor, it is important to also look into the possible future impacts that come with it. One of the best ways of doing this is to look at long range plans like the corridor’s two area plans the Country Club Waldo Plan and the Swope Plan. The newest plan, the Country Club Waldo Plan encompasses the western portion of the corridor and recommends: the building of a new trail through the landing; a continued focus on 63rd as a major transit corridor; and to treat the intersection at 63rd and Troost with an activity street typology. The Swope Area Plan takes up the remaining eastern portion of the corridor and recommends (out of a lot of great transit initiatives): the exploration of an east to west 63rd street MAX line; a long term strategy of identifying a fixed rail alternative along the 71 highway corridor; the building of a town fork creek trail, in line with the Country Club Waldo Plan; future streetcar connections to the trolley track trail; and the identification of 63rd and Troost as a major activity and transit center, as well as pedestrian zone, that should be considered for transit-oriented development (TOD)

After putting the current conditions altogether with the future vision for the area set forth by the city, one sees what may become of the 63rd Street corridor and the all important intersection at 63rd and Troost.