Starting January 1: Independence switching from public buses to on-demand IRIS program [Video]

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) – Starting from the first of the year, Independence public transportation users will have to transition to IRIS, an on-demand service.

On Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, the City of Independence will switch its public transportation offerings from public buses to private rides using the IRIS rideshare program.

Instead of catching scheduled routes, residents can schedule an IRIS rideshare vehicle to pick them up and drop them off at their requested location.

According to the city, budget restraints forced the change. Independence’s annual budget for public transportation is $1.3M, but the estimated cost to continue servicing full bus routes for 2025 was reportedly $4.2M, with $3.3M coming from general funds.

All but one route, Route 24, and the RideKC Freedom paratransit service will be eliminated, including:

• Route 301runs east and south from the intersection of Truman and Noland to roughly Centerpointe Medical Center along 23rd, Lee’s Summit Road, and …