Johnson County has taken the final step toward launching an airport shuttle pilot program.

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners approved an agreement with the cities of Overland Park and Lenexa to collaborate on a transit service connecting Lenexa City Center, the Overland Park Convention Center and Kansas City International Airport during the FIFA World Cup 26™.

“We were very pleased to support KC2026’s announcement of its ConnectKC26 plan, which will help residents and visitors efficiently navigate the metro area during the FIFA World Cup 26™,” said BOCC Chairman Mike Kelly.

“A free airport shuttle in Johnson County will supplement Connect-KC26’s efforts as we all work together to ensure that our residents and visitors from around the world can easily travel to and from the airport using convenient and comfortable public transportation. We are excited to soon announce other ways Johnson County plans to supplement ConnectKC26.”

Lenexa, Overland Park and Johnson County each have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and committed $200,000 to the pilot program. These local contributions provide the matching funds required for a $2 million Federal Highway Administration Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program grant to support the shuttle’s operations.

The airport shuttle pilot program agreements begin on March 1, 2026. After initial beta testing, the service is expected to open to the public on May 1, 2026. The MOUs remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2026, with the understanding that the program will operate as long as funding allows—approximately nine months.

The shuttle will operate under the name “Johnson County United Airport Drop and Ride.” Johnson County United is the shared branding platform for coordinated World Cup–related efforts by \ Johnson County and its partner cities.

The name also clarifies that the service is a drop-off model, not a park-and-ride; passengers will need to be dropped off at and picked up from either Lenexa City Center or the Overland Park Convention Center.

Shuttle vehicles will feature Johnson County United branding for easy identification. The service is planned to run daily, with arrivals roughly every 25 minutes between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.

The shuttle will be available for all airport-related travel throughout the pilot period, not solely for trips related to the FIFA World Cup 26™.

Data collected throughout the pilot service period will be analyzed to determine potential demand for a longer-term approach to public transportation between Johnson County and KCI.