The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) is a public transit agency in metropolitan Kansas City. It operates the Metro Area Express (MAX) bus rapid transit service in Kansas City, Missouri, and 78 local bus routes in seven counties of Missouri and Kansas. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 12,006,600, about 38,000 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

The KCATA is a bi-state agency formed by an interstate compact between Kansas and Missouri in 1965–6. Authorized by both states' legislatures and an act of Congress,^[3] the agency's jurisdiction includes Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. The agency is governed by a board of ten commissioners, five from each state.^[4] Operations began in 1969, when the KCATA took over bus routes previously run by the Kansas City Public Service Company.

In 2014, KCATA, Johnson County Transit, UG Transit and IndeBus announced that all services would be merged into one service, RideKC by 2019. The Johnson County, KS Commissioners pulled out of KCATA management agreement effective August 1, 2022 but retained the partnership with the regional RideKC transit branding and planning.

KCTA offers a variety of fare options that vary based on type of service and passenger eligibility, with reduced fares for children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities.^[5] Monthly passes are valid for 31 consecutive days from first activation, while day passes are only able to be used for one service day.^[6] Visitor passes are able to be purchased online and are able to be used for three consecutive days. Most passes are accepted across regional transit providers.

There are many Transit Centers and major Park and Rides in the RideKC service area.

Bus rapid transit premiered with the Metro Area Express in July 2005. It is about 12-mile (19 km) linking the River Market, Downtown, Crown Center and the Plaza Area. The first BRT Line is in service on Main Street. A second BRT Line is the 13-mile (21 km) Troost Avenue which started service on January 1, 2011. The third BRT line is along the Prospect Ave corridor and began service in December 2019.^[7]

The RideKC Bus fleet as of February 6, 2019.