No need to fuss. Get IndeBus.
When a majority of commercial property owners near the Independence Events Center signed a petition in fall 2007 to form a Community Improvement District, several promises were made.
First, the .5 percent sales tax on the district’s taxable purchases for 20 years would fund the events center’s construction. That part is known by now.
But in several weeks, residents will have the opportunity to experience the second promise made: a shuttle service around the district during the holiday season’s busiest shopping days. Because of the CID, the service will be available at no cost to residents in need.
City staff recently approved an emergency purchase order totaling $28,600 to the Kansas City Transportation Group for the IndeBus shuttle service. The shuttle service will run every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 5, 12 and 19.
The IndeBus hub is in the south parking lot of the Independence Events Center, which is prominently located near the intersection of interstates 470 and 70.
The Independence Center HotShot route will provide direct service to and from the Independence Center shopping mall. A fixed route will provide 10 stops in a loop encompassing Hartman Heritage, Independence Commons and Bolger Square, located along 39th Street and Jackson Drive north of I-70.
Depending on demand, a total of 10 shuttles will carry between eight and 18 passengers each.
City Manager Robert Heacock said the service is on a start-up basis, but the city ultimately wants to see it as an on-demand service for residents who are uneasy with navigating the city’s shopping corridors before the holidays.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Heacock said. “We’ll see what the reaction is.”
