Liberty Rolls Out New Ride Service, Because Apparently Walking Is So 2024
LIBERTY — The City of Liberty has decided to shake things up in the thrilling world of municipal transportation. After breaking up with IRIS — their old rideshare partner — the city has swiped right on a new fling: GEST Missouri Holdings, LLC.
To celebrate this bold one-month “pilot program” (yes, thirty days), the city will hold the obligatory ribbon cutting and inaugural ride — because in Liberty, no policy change is complete until someone in a suit pretends to take public transit for the cameras.
Service officially began October 1, offering residents “on-demand door-to-door transportation” for the modest price of $3 per trip. Just don’t call it a rideshare — the city prefers “mobility innovation.”
Mayor Greg Canuteson was quick to tout the program, saying, “We are excited to continue offering affordable transportation in Liberty with a new partner.” That statement comes from the same mayor who, just a few months ago, publicly berated a local resident during a heated council meeting after they questioned the city’s handling of COVID relief funds and the Activity Center tax proposal.
But today, the mayor is all smiles, using this new transportation program to remind residents how much he cares about “accessibility and affordability.” It’s a remarkable transformation for a man who seems to lose patience the moment a taxpayer asks where the money’s going.
According to City Hall, GEST’s primary mission is to get people to work, doctor’s appointments, and grocery stores — because, in Liberty’s imagination, that’s the full extent of local life. The service runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., perfect for those who never dare to leave the house after dark or need a ride anywhere spontaneous.
The city ended its contract with IRIS, an app-based service under the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, after two years of subsidies couldn’t keep it afloat. Officials blamed “rising costs,” though residents might remember a similar line used before several other short-lived city ventures quietly fizzled out.
Mayor Canuteson has described the GEST partnership as a “cost-effective solution,” though his definition of cost-effective tends to stretch depending on the audience. Between his heated outburst at taxpayers, the city’s growing frustration with transparency requests, and the constant carousel of pilot programs, Liberty’s leadership appears to be more interested in short-term optics than long-term planning.
For now, residents can book a ride by calling 816-919-4378 — assuming the phone line lasts longer than the city’s last transportation experiment. And if the service doesn’t pan out? Don’t worry — there’s always another ribbon to cut.
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