Missouri considers expanding bus transportation statewide
Missouri Seeks to Boost Intercity Bus Service in Rural Areas
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is working to revitalize intercity bus service, focusing on new and improved routes in rural and underserved areas. This initiative is aimed at addressing service gaps caused by the closure of Greyhound stations and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MoDOT has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a study aimed at identifying service gaps and developing funding solutions to expand intercity bus routes across the state. Key corridors under consideration include Columbia to Jefferson City, a southeast corridor along Interstate 55, and a northwest corridor serving Hannibal.
The study will also prioritize implementation based on measured need and interest, with a focus on reconnecting isolated communities to improve access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services. MoDOT is exploring funding options via the study and may leverage federal grants such as the DHS/FEMA Intercity Bus Security Grant Program.
The initiative aligns with broader regional transit improvements in Missouri but focuses specifically on intercity bus travel to serve rural needs beyond urban transit expansions found in cities like Kansas City. The chosen vendor will conduct a study assessing how passengers feel about riding the bus and will explore ways people can check routes and book travel using their mobile phones.
Intercity bus ridership is expected to grow by 4% this year, above the projected growth of domestic auto and air travel. This growth is significant, especially considering that intercity bus service has declined significantly over the past 10 years, with many rural areas having no service.
The revitalization effort in Missouri follows similar initiatives in other states. For example, Maine and Virginia have launched intercity bus routes connecting Lewiston to Portland and Harrisonburg to Virginia Beach respectively. Colorado's intercity bus service has seen a growth in ridership from 17,000 passengers per month in 2018 to an average of 24,000 last year.
The end result of the study could determine how bus lines could combine with services already provided by Amtrak passenger rail stops, providing a comprehensive public transportation network across Missouri. The study is expected to be completed by late 2027.
[1] Missouri Department of Transportation. (2025). Request for Proposals: Intercity Bus Service Study. Retrieved from https://www.modot.mo.gov/rfp/2025/08/intercity-bus-service-study
[3] Missouri Department of Transportation. (2025). Intercity Bus Service Study: Request for Proposals. Retrieved from https://www.modot.mo.gov/newsroom/2025/august/modot-seeks-proposals-to-study-intercity-bus-service-expansion
[4] Missouri Department of Transportation. (2025). Intercity Bus Service Study. Retrieved from https://www.modot.mo.gov/programs-projects/intercity-bus-service-study
[5] U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2025). Intercity Bus Security Grant Program. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/grants/intercity-bus-security-grant-program
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is considering ways to fund intercity bus route expansions across the state, potentially leveraging federal grants such as the DHS/FEMA Intercity Bus Security Grant Program.
The end result of the study could see bus lines combining with services already provided by Amtrak passenger rail stops, potentially leading to a comprehensive public transportation network including rail, bus, and finance-funded transportation.
