Cold weather shelters, transit changes, and municipal service updates are in effect due to extreme conditions.
As severe winter weather moves into Wyandotte County this weekend, the Unified Government (UG) outlined preparations, available services, and expected impacts tied to extreme cold and hazardous travel conditions.
According to the UG, overnight cold weather shelter services will be available at the Willa Gill Center, located at 645 Nebraska Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the shelter will operate from Friday, January 23 through Monday, January 26. Due to frigid temperatures, doors will remain open overnight, with morning closing extended one hour to 9:00 a.m. to allow guests to transition to daytime warming services.
Daytime warming will be available at the Frank Williams Center, 1201 North 7th Street, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 23. The center will also be open Saturday and Sunday during the same hours. Regular hours are expected to resume Monday, January 26. Additional dates may be added based on weather conditions.
Community and Recreation Centers will be closed Saturday, January 24, and will not be available as warming shelters.
Public transit services will also be affected. To reduce the risk of mid-service suspensions during the storm, IRIS services will be suspended for the weekend. Fixed-route weekend service will continue on Route 101 State Avenue and Route 107 7th Street. More information about routes and service updates is available through RideKC.
Looking ahead to Monday, January 26, the UG offices will be closed to in-person business due to extreme cold. District Court operations at the Courthouse, Juvenile Detention Center, and Community Corrections will remain open, along with the District Attorney’s Office, Treasury services at the Courthouse, the Annex at 82nd Street and State Avenue, and the Treasury location at City Hall in Bonner Springs for renewals only.
UG employees will work remotely where feasible. Essential employees, including Police, Fire, Sheriff, Transit, Buildings and Logistics, and Public Works staff, will continue operations to support public safety.
Kansas City, Kansas Municipal Court will be closed Monday, January 26. Scheduled hearings will be continued, with new court dates mailed to affected individuals. Payments may still be made through the My Wyco app or the Municipal Court webpage. Bonds may be posted at the jail, though bond payments will not be accepted elsewhere during the closure.
Transit operations on Monday will resume with adjustments. RideKC Freedom and IRIS services will begin at 7:00 a.m. All fixed routes will operate as scheduled, though riders should expect delays of 30 to 60 minutes and are encouraged to plan ahead or reschedule trips if possible.
Finally, the Public Works and Safety Standing Committee and the Administration and Human Services Standing Committee meetings scheduled for Monday, January 26, have been rescheduled. Both meetings will now take place Wednesday, January 28, at 5:00 p.m. in the fifth-floor conference room of the Municipal Building.
