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KC Streetcar

January 01, 1970

For the streetcar routes operated in the 19th and 20th centuries, see Streetcars in Kansas City.

The KC Streetcar is in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri.[7] Streetcar system construction began in May 2014[8] and opened for service on May 6, 2016. It is free to ride, as it is funded by a transportation development district.[9] As of December 2023, the streetcar has had 13 million rides since opening in 2016.[3] Extensions north to the riverfront and south to University of Missouri-Kansas City have been funded, with the southern extension under construction.[10]

KC Streetcar
A streetcar leaves Union Station, northbound.
Overview
OwnerCity of Kansas City
LocaleKansas City, Missouri, US
Transit typeStreetcar
Number of lines1[1]
Number of stations10 (8 under construction)[2]
Daily ridership5,020[3]
Annual ridership1,832,215[3]
Websitekcstreetcar.org
Operation
Began operationMay 6, 2016[4]
Operator(s)Kansas City Streetcar Authority
CharacterStreet running
Number of vehicles7 CAF Urbos 3s[5]
Train length3
Headway10-15 minutes
Technical
System length2.2 mi (3.5 km)[6]
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line, 750 V DC

Route edit

The downtown streetcar runs along a 2.2-mile-long (3.5 km) route[6] between the River Market and Union Station, running through the central business district and the Crossroads, mostly along Main Street. It makes stops about every two blocks, and has 10 designated stops along the route.[11] It connects directly with Amtrak, local and commuter RideKC bus services (including a direct route to Kansas City International Airport) and several RideKC bike-share kiosks.

Proponents tout the initial segment as one of the simplest and straightest modern streetcar routes in the United States.[12][13] All platforms offer level boarding and real-time arrival information.[14]

History edit

Further information: Streetcars in Kansas City

Development edit

 
A streetcar heads southbound on Main Street.

After earlier efforts to create a metrowide or citywide rail transit system failed at the ballot box, voters in downtown Kansas City approved funding for a two-mile streetcar line in December 2012.[15]

In December 2012, the city council awarded a contract to HDR, Inc. to complete a final design for the downtown streetcar line.[16] HDR had previously performed preliminary engineering work. In October 2013, it was announced that Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) would build low-floor Urbos 3 streetcars for the line.[17] Pre-construction work, utility-relocation work in preparation for the project, began in late 2013, and construction of the line began in May 2014.[8] Construction was completed in late 2015, with the first streetcar arriving in November 2015[18] and testing was performed from December 2015 to May 2016.[19][1]

The projected cost of the Downtown streetcar was $102 million.[20] The majority of funds came from Special Obligation Bonds of the City of Kansas City, Missouri totaling $64 million. Construction bonds and operating costs were repaid by a special assessment and 1% sales tax collected inside a transportation development district (TDD) approved by voters in 2012. Both levies are assessed only within the taxing district, which encompasses downtown neighborhoods along the streetcar route. Additional funding included a utility contribution and two federal grants totaling $17.1 million.[21] The project received another $20 million federal grant, through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, in August 2013.[22] Passengers ride free of charge, as operating costs are covered by the TDD.[11] Total construction costs were $250,000 under budget[23] and operations costs started out under budget.[24]

Opening edit

KC Streetcar operation began on May 6, 2016, at approximately 11am. The total opening Friday and Saturday ridership was over 27,000 rides,[25] with the trains travelling 650 miles.[26] The weekend celebration for the streetcar's opening included music, a free carnival, fireworks, and coordinated specials at businesses. Bus service and bike share service was free to correspond with the launch. City officials stated the line exceeded their expectations, with over 100,000 rides in the first two weeks, and one million rides after 5 months.[27][28]

Ridership edit

 
The KC Streetcar was decorated in June 2022 with an art wrap.

The line was originally projected to have a daily average ridership of just 2,700. Average yearly ridership levels have been around double this figure.[29][30] The streetcar is free to ride, and is funded by the local transportation development district. Ridership is calculated by the use of automatic, anonymous passenger counters at each streetcar door – with manual checks to ensure accuracy.[31] Per mile, the streetcar has higher ridership than other major transit lines such as the Muni Metro in San Francisco, California or METRORail in Houston, Texas.[13] In 2023, KC Streetcar had 2,281 average daily boardings per mile, compared to 1,924 for Muni Metro in San Francisco and 1,705 for METRORail in Houston.[32]

Following initial high ridership, two additional streetcars were ordered from CAF to service demand.[33] The line celebrated 5 million rides in September 2018.[34] On July 5, 2019, the streetcar set a one day ridership record, with 15,559 rides.[31]

The COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted ridership, which dropped by two-thirds to just 2,148 daily rides in 2020.[35][36] In 2021, ridership levels recovered, but to levels lower than before the pandemic.[35] The line celebrated 10 million rides in April 2022.[37] During the 2023 NFL draft three-day weekend in April 2023, nearly 60,000 rides were taken and a one day ridership record was set on April 27, with 21,601 riders.[3] In December 2023, KC Streetcar noted that demand had recovered to 95% of pre-pandemic levels at weekends, and 80% on weekdays.[3]

KC Streetcar ridership
2016[38] 2017[39] 2018[29] 2019[40] 2020[41] 2021[35] 2022[30] 2023[3]
Ridership 1,399,153[a] 2,072,367 2,114,717 2,228,942 782,556 1,061,105 1,534,897 1,832,215
Average daily ridership 5,830[a] 5,645 5,794 6,107 2,148 2,910 4,205 5,020
Cumulative ridership 1,399,153 3,459,480 5,574,366 7,808,818 8,601,264 9,662,369 11,197,266 13,029,481

Rolling stock edit

In October 2013, the mayor announced that the system will use 100% low-floor Urbos 3 streetcars made by the American subsidiary of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) in Elmira Heights, New York.[17] The streetcars are numbered following the order set up by the original Kansas City Public Service Company numbering system.[42]

The first streetcar (801) arrived in Kansas City on November 2, 2015, with testing beginning on November 6.[18][19] Following initial high ridership, two additional streetcars were ordered from CAF in June 2017 at a cost of $12 million.[33] Car 805 arrived on May 13, 2019,[43] and entered service on July 1, 2019.[44] Car 806 arrived on August 26, 2019.[45][46] As part of the expansion of the line south, 8 additional streetcars were ordered from CAF, which will more than double the size of the fleet.[47] The first of the expanded fleet arrived in February 2024, and began testing soon after.[48]

Expansion edit

Expansion planning began in 2014. Two studies covered one line north, crossing the Missouri River and eight lines heading east, west and south from downtown. A ballot proposition in August 2014 to add three new rail lines and an improved bus line failed 40%–60%.[49] A grassroots effort to revisit expansion using the same legal structure as the starter line was funded by the private sector.[50] An 3.48 miles (5.60 km) extension south to University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) along Main Street is currently under construction,[51] with completion due by early 2025.[10]

Extension to UMKC edit

In August 2017, voters approved the formation of a transportation development district (TDD) to help fund an extension south towards UMKC.[52][53] In December 2020, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced it had awarded $174 million for the extension, with the remaining $177 million of funding coming from the expanded TDD.[54][55] Groundbreaking occurred on April 6, 2022.[51] In July 2023, Mayor of Kansas City Quinton Lucas called for transit-only lanes on Main Street as part of the work.[56][57] As of October 2023, the extension to UMKC is scheduled to open in early 2025.[10]

Riverfront Extension edit

In August 2017, the KC Port Authority announced plans to extend the line 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) north from the River Market toward the Missouri River, connecting to Berkley Riverfront Park and a proposed Kansas City Current soccer stadium.[58][59] The extension would be funded by the KC Port Authority, as well as by federal TIGER funding.[60] In December 2020, $14.2 million was awarded by the FTA towards the extension, with additional funding required from local sources.[61] A groundbreaking ceremony for the project took place on March 1, 2024, with completion anticipated to be in 2026.[10][62]

Future extensions edit

In September 2021, the KC Streetcar Authority began studying the potential for a northern extension of the line over the Missouri River to North Kansas City.[63] In January 2023, officials noted this would cost around $222 million to build, and that a TDD would not cover all its construction cost.[64]

In October 2021, the KC Streetcar Authority and Kansas City Area Transportation Authority began planning an east–west transit line towards University of Kansas Medical Center and Kansas City, Kansas.[65][66] Initial public consultation indicated that a streetcar line was preferred over bus rapid transit, and that a route along 39th Street and Linwood Boulevard was preferred.[67] In November 2023, a proposed streetcar route was announced, a 5.6 mi (9.0 km) line from University of Kansas Medical Center to Van Brunt Boulevard using 39th Street and Linwood Boulevard, with 16 proposed stops.[68][69] Officials noted that the line would cost between $560 million and $650 million to build, and that a TDD would not cover the cost of construction. Other funding sources such as federal grants and local, regional or state taxes would be considered as alternatives.[70] It was noted that a TDD along the route may cover the estimated $8 million operating cost of the line.[70]

Operating authority edit

 
A streetcar stops in River Market.

The streetcar is operated by the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, a not-for-profit corporation that is funded by local taxes. The authority was incorporated in August 2012 after voters approved creation of the Kansas City Downtown Transportation Development District,[71] a special taxing district that funds construction and operation of a two-mile route through downtown Kansas City. Legal claims against the district and its taxation power were dismissed in August 2013.[72] The streetcar began construction in May 2014, was completed in late 2015, and began carrying passengers in service on May 6, 2016.[1]

The Streetcar Authority's 13 directors, a mix of public officials, business people, and transit advocates, were appointed by the City Council and Port Authority in late 2012 and met for the first time as an officially sanctioned body in early 2013.[73] The authority's oversight of the streetcar's operation and maintenance is modeled on that of the Portland Streetcar. The city council has the power to appoint some of the authority's directors and retains ownership over the system.

Daily operations and maintenance of the system is handled by Herzog Transit Services, under joint contract to the Streetcar Authority and the City of Kansas City. The contract was signed in October 2015.[74]

Economic development edit

Even prior to the opening of the line in 2016, new development was occurring along the route.[75] Analysis by HDR, Inc. stated that the downtown area along the route received $1.8 billion of development between 2013 and 2018, with a quarter of the investment publicly credited to the creation of the streetcar.[76]

The streetcar has also been praised by political leaders and venue operators for making Kansas City more attractive for events, such as the 2021 Big 12 men's basketball tournament and the 2023 NFL draft.[77]

In 2021, local businesses stated the extension of the line south to UMKC has also spurred development in the area, with $413 million of private investment.[78][79] In 2023, it was reported that investors and developers had purchased over 150 properties along the extension route.[80] Some residents have been concerned that development along the route will lead to gentrification.[81][82]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b 2016 ridership figures start from May 6, 2016, when the line opened until December 31, 2016.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Kansas City is on the MOVE with the KC Streetcar". KC Streetcar. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  2. ^ "The KC Streetcar – FAQs". Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2023" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Horsley, Lynn (May 6, 2016). "After years of planning, setbacks, hard work, KC celebrates streetcar grand opening". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  5. ^ Alonzo, Austin (January 7, 2014). "KC will send three city staff members to Spain for streetcar workshops". Kansas City Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "FAQS [- How long is the downtown streetcar route?]". KC Streetcar. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  7. ^ . Forbes. June 2013. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2013. In December, Residents of Kansas City approved the construction of a two-mile, downtown streetcar line after a mail-in election.
  8. ^ a b Horsley, Lynn (May 22, 2014). "KC Breaks Ground for Streetcars — and OKs Advance Spending on Expansion". Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "FAQS – KC Streetcar | Cost – Pet Information – Speed – Streetcar Stops". Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d Hendricks, Mike (October 24, 2023). "Soaring costs delay Kansas City streetcar riverfront extension. When could it be done?". Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Hand, Gunnar (January 15, 2013). . The Architect's Newspaper. Archpaper.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  12. ^ Rubin, Richard (July 4, 2018). "The Perfect Way to Explore Modern Kansas City? A Streetcar, Believe It or Not". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Grabar, Henry (August 2, 2016). "Did an American City Finally Build a Good Streetcar?". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "How to Ride". KC Streetcar.
  15. ^ Alonzo, Austin (December 12, 2012). "Kansas City voters approve streetcar plan". Kansas City Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  16. ^ Alonzo, Austin (December 21, 2012). "Kansas City streetcar's first stop: Construction plans". Kansas City Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  17. ^ a b Alonzo, Austin (October 4, 2013). "Spanish firm CAF will supply streetcars". Kansas City Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  18. ^ a b Horsley, Lynn (November 2, 2015). "First KC streetcar vehicle rolls into town". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  19. ^ a b Horsley, Lynn (November 6, 2015). "Kansas City streetcar passes first test on downtown tracks". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  20. ^ Horsley, Lynn (July 2, 2015). "Kansas City streetcar costs are comparable to other cities". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  21. ^ Alonzo, Austin (May 22, 2013). "Kansas City streetcar seeks $20 million TIGER grant". Kansas City Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  22. ^ Alonzo, Austin (August 30, 2013). "Kansas City wins $20M federal TIGER grant for streetcar". Kansas City Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  23. ^ Hernandez, Chris [@CHernandezKCMO] (May 7, 2016). "Did we mention @kcstreetcar came in $250K UNDER budget? Thanks @KCMO Public Works for excellent management!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Johnson, Dale [@kclightrail] (March 31, 2016). ".@kcstreetcar operations is UNDER budget" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ KC Streetcar [@kcstreetcar] (May 8, 2016). "Opening wknd passenger numbers: more than 27,000 riders enjoyed the #kcstreetcar over 2 days" (Tweet). Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ KC Streetcar [@kcstreetcar] (May 8, 2016). "#kcstreetcar opening weekend fun fact: the fleet traveled nearly 650 miles over two days" (Tweet). Retrieved May 8, 2016 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "City officials: Streetcar exceeds expectations". KSHB. May 20, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  28. ^ "KC Streetcar celebrates its 1 millionth ride". KSHB. October 13, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2018" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2021. Daily Avg ridership 2018: 5,794, Projected Daily Average Ridership was 2,700
  30. ^ a b "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2022" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 31, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  31. ^ a b "KC Streetcar | Ridership". KC Streetcar. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  32. ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 30, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  33. ^ a b Horsley, Lynn (April 13, 2017). "Kansas City streetcar director says new vehicles urgently needed". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  34. ^ "Streetcar celebrates 5 million rides". KSHB. September 18, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  35. ^ a b c "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership & Performance December 2021" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  36. ^ "KC Streetcar reducing hours in response to COVID-19". KSHB. March 19, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  37. ^ "Board of Directors of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority May 19 2022 Meeting Minutes" (PDF). KC Streetcar. May 19, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  38. ^ "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance January 2017" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. January 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  39. ^ "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2017" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  40. ^ "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2019" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  41. ^ "Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2020" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. December 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  42. ^ "FAQS – KC Streetcar | Cost – Pet Information – Speed – Streetcar Stops". Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  43. ^ "KC Streetcar 805". KC Streetcar. July 2019. from the original on September 12, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  44. ^ . Downtown Council of Kansas City. July 3, 2019. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  45. ^ "806 Rolls Into Town". KC Streetcar. August 15, 2019. from the original on September 12, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  46. ^ Video of car 806 being unloaded on Twitter, by KC Streetcar on August 26, 2019.
  47. ^ "KC Streetcar fleet may soon double in size". KSHB. June 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  48. ^ Mandelbaum, Donna (February 8, 2024). "KC Streetcar | #807 is Ready for Night Testing". Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  49. ^ Horsley, Lynn (August 5, 2014). "Kansas City streetcar plan stopped in its tracks". The Kansas City Star.
  50. ^ "Midtown/UMKC Streetcar Extension Resources – KCRTA". kcrta.org. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  51. ^ a b "$351M KC Streetcar Extension Officially Breaks Ground" (PDF). kcstreetcar.org. April 6, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  52. ^ "Funds to support KC Streetcar expansion approved". KSHB. June 20, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  53. ^ "Voters approve new taxing district for Kansas City streetcar expansion". kansascity. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  54. ^ "KC Streetcar extension officially receives $174M in federal funding". KSHB. January 8, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  55. ^ "KC Streetcar Extension: $174MM FFGA". Railway Age. December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  56. ^ "How to Ride". KC Streetcar.
  57. ^ Alonzo, Austin (December 21, 2012). "Kansas City streetcar's first stop: Construction plans". Kansas City Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  58. ^ "KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension moving forward". KSHB. March 23, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  59. ^ "Stadium for Kansas City NWSL to be built along Berkley Riverfront". KSHB. October 26, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  60. ^ "Kansas City Streetcar looking to expand service — this time rolling to the north". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  61. ^ "KC Streetcar receives funding to expand north to riverfront park". KSHB. September 10, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  62. ^ Mandelbaum, Donna (February 22, 2024). "KC Streetcar | Riverfront Extension Groundbreaking". Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  63. ^ "With two extensions underway, KC streetcar eyes crossing Missouri River into North KC". Kansas City Star. September 6, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  64. ^ Collison, Kevin (January 6, 2023). "North Kansas City Streetcar Extension Sidetracked by Financial Concerns". Flatland KC. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  65. ^ "KC Streetcar Eyes East-West Expansion". Railway Age. October 4, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  66. ^ "KC Streetcar to study east, west route along 39th Street". KSHB. October 1, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  67. ^ Collison, Kevin (February 10, 2023). "East-West Streetcar Could Cost $600M, Need New Funding Source". Flatland KC. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  68. ^ Hernandez, Joseph (November 10, 2023). "An east-west streetcar? Kansas City transit officials unveil proposal for 16 new stops". Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  69. ^ "Station Location Virtual Public Meeting - East West Transit Study" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. November 9, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  70. ^ a b "East West Transit Study Executive Summary" (PDF). Ride KC Streetcar. May 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  71. ^ Bender, Jonathan (August 3, 2012). . The Pitch. Kansas City Pitch LLC. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  72. ^ "Appeal from the Circuit Court of Jackson County The Honorable Peggy Stevens McGraw, Judge". The Missouri Court of Appeals Western District. August 7, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  73. ^ Alonzo, Austin (January 2, 2013). "Streetcar Authority mulls options in first official meeting". Kansas City Business Journal. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  74. ^ DVV Media UK (October 9, 2015). . Railway Gazette International. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  75. ^ "More apartments spring up on KC Streetcar route". KSHB. May 2, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  76. ^ "Kansas City Streetcar | HDR". www.hdrinc.com. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  77. ^ "The impact KC Streetcar has on Big 12 and other sports events". KSHB. March 12, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  78. ^ "Midtown revitalization takes shape with businesses opening, streetcar expansion". KSHB. January 11, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  79. ^ Friestad, Thomas (October 21, 2021). "Streetcar sees $413M in private investment along southern extension route". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  80. ^ Friestad, Thomas (April 7, 2023). "Investors make tracks to invest along streetcar". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  81. ^ Nozicka, Luke (September 21, 2021). "In a rapidly changing Midtown, some fear Streetcar expansion will price out neighbors". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  82. ^ "Streetcar extension is reshaping Kansas City's real estate market — potentially pricing out residents". KCUR 89.3 - NPR in Kansas City. July 24, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.

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January 01, 1970
streetcar, streetcar, routes, operated, 19th, 20th, centuries, streetcars, kansas, city, downtown, kansas, city, missouri, streetcar, system, construction, began, 2014, opened, service, 2016, free, ride, funded, transportation, development, district, december,. For the streetcar routes operated in the 19th and 20th centuries see Streetcars in Kansas City The KC Streetcar is in Downtown Kansas City Missouri 7 Streetcar system construction began in May 2014 8 and opened for service on May 6 2016 It is free to ride as it is funded by a transportation development district 9 As of December 2023 update the streetcar has had 13 million rides since opening in 2016 3 Extensions north to the riverfront and south to University of Missouri Kansas City have been funded with the southern extension under construction 10 KC StreetcarA streetcar leaves Union Station northbound OverviewOwnerCity of Kansas CityLocaleKansas City Missouri USTransit typeStreetcarNumber of lines1 1 Number of stations10 8 under construction 2 Daily ridership5 020 3 Annual ridership1 832 215 3 Websitekcstreetcar wbr orgOperationBegan operationMay 6 2016 4 Operator s Kansas City Streetcar AuthorityCharacterStreet runningNumber of vehicles7 CAF Urbos 3s 5 Train length3Headway10 15 minutesTechnicalSystem length2 2 mi 3 5 km 6 Track gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeElectrificationOverhead line 750 V DCRoute diagramLegend Riverfront Drive Expansion opening 2025to Berkley Riverfront Park E Crichton Kite Singleton Yard River Market North 3rd amp Grand NB River Market North 3rd amp Grand SB River Market West 4th amp Delaware City Market 5th amp Walnut I 35 I 70 US 40 US 24 North Loop 7th amp Main Library 9th amp Main Metro Center 12th amp Main Power amp Light 14th amp Main I 670 Kauffman Center 16th amp Main Crossroads 19th amp Main Kansas City Terminal Railway Union Station Pershing amp Main 27th amp Main Expansion opening in 2025 31st amp Main Armour Blvd amp Main 39th amp Main 43rd amp Main 45th amp Main Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd amp Main US 56 Brush Creek 51st amp Brookside Blvd UMKC This diagram viewtalkedit Contents 1 Route 2 History 2 1 Development 2 2 Opening 2 3 Ridership 3 Rolling stock 4 Expansion 4 1 Extension to UMKC 4 2 Riverfront Extension 4 3 Future extensions 5 Operating authority 6 Economic development 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksRoute editThe downtown streetcar runs along a 2 2 mile long 3 5 km route 6 between the River Market and Union Station running through the central business district and the Crossroads mostly along Main Street It makes stops about every two blocks and has 10 designated stops along the route 11 It connects directly with Amtrak local and commuter RideKC bus services including a direct route to Kansas City International Airport and several RideKC bike share kiosks Proponents tout the initial segment as one of the simplest and straightest modern streetcar routes in the United States 12 13 All platforms offer level boarding and real time arrival information 14 History editFurther information Streetcars in Kansas City Development edit nbsp A streetcar heads southbound on Main Street After earlier efforts to create a metrowide or citywide rail transit system failed at the ballot box voters in downtown Kansas City approved funding for a two mile streetcar line in December 2012 15 In December 2012 the city council awarded a contract to HDR Inc to complete a final design for the downtown streetcar line 16 HDR had previously performed preliminary engineering work In October 2013 it was announced that Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles CAF would build low floor Urbos 3 streetcars for the line 17 Pre construction work utility relocation work in preparation for the project began in late 2013 and construction of the line began in May 2014 8 Construction was completed in late 2015 with the first streetcar arriving in November 2015 18 and testing was performed from December 2015 to May 2016 19 1 The projected cost of the Downtown streetcar was 102 million 20 The majority of funds came from Special Obligation Bonds of the City of Kansas City Missouri totaling 64 million Construction bonds and operating costs were repaid by a special assessment and 1 sales tax collected inside a transportation development district TDD approved by voters in 2012 Both levies are assessed only within the taxing district which encompasses downtown neighborhoods along the streetcar route Additional funding included a utility contribution and two federal grants totaling 17 1 million 21 The project received another 20 million federal grant through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery TIGER program in August 2013 22 Passengers ride free of charge as operating costs are covered by the TDD 11 Total construction costs were 250 000 under budget 23 and operations costs started out under budget 24 Opening edit KC Streetcar operation began on May 6 2016 at approximately 11am The total opening Friday and Saturday ridership was over 27 000 rides 25 with the trains travelling 650 miles 26 The weekend celebration for the streetcar s opening included music a free carnival fireworks and coordinated specials at businesses Bus service and bike share service was free to correspond with the launch City officials stated the line exceeded their expectations with over 100 000 rides in the first two weeks and one million rides after 5 months 27 28 Ridership edit nbsp The KC Streetcar was decorated in June 2022 with an art wrap The line was originally projected to have a daily average ridership of just 2 700 Average yearly ridership levels have been around double this figure 29 30 The streetcar is free to ride and is funded by the local transportation development district Ridership is calculated by the use of automatic anonymous passenger counters at each streetcar door with manual checks to ensure accuracy 31 Per mile the streetcar has higher ridership than other major transit lines such as the Muni Metro in San Francisco California or METRORail in Houston Texas 13 In 2023 KC Streetcar had 2 281 average daily boardings per mile compared to 1 924 for Muni Metro in San Francisco and 1 705 for METRORail in Houston 32 Following initial high ridership two additional streetcars were ordered from CAF to service demand 33 The line celebrated 5 million rides in September 2018 34 On July 5 2019 the streetcar set a one day ridership record with 15 559 rides 31 The COVID 19 pandemic heavily impacted ridership which dropped by two thirds to just 2 148 daily rides in 2020 35 36 In 2021 ridership levels recovered but to levels lower than before the pandemic 35 The line celebrated 10 million rides in April 2022 37 During the 2023 NFL draft three day weekend in April 2023 nearly 60 000 rides were taken and a one day ridership record was set on April 27 with 21 601 riders 3 In December 2023 KC Streetcar noted that demand had recovered to 95 of pre pandemic levels at weekends and 80 on weekdays 3 KC Streetcar ridership 2016 38 2017 39 2018 29 2019 40 2020 41 2021 35 2022 30 2023 3 Ridership 1 399 153 a 2 072 367 2 114 717 2 228 942 782 556 1 061 105 1 534 897 1 832 215 Average daily ridership 5 830 a 5 645 5 794 6 107 2 148 2 910 4 205 5 020 Cumulative ridership 1 399 153 3 459 480 5 574 366 7 808 818 8 601 264 9 662 369 11 197 266 13 029 481Rolling stock editIn October 2013 the mayor announced that the system will use 100 low floor Urbos 3 streetcars made by the American subsidiary of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles CAF in Elmira Heights New York 17 The streetcars are numbered following the order set up by the original Kansas City Public Service Company numbering system 42 The first streetcar 801 arrived in Kansas City on November 2 2015 with testing beginning on November 6 18 19 Following initial high ridership two additional streetcars were ordered from CAF in June 2017 at a cost of 12 million 33 Car 805 arrived on May 13 2019 43 and entered service on July 1 2019 44 Car 806 arrived on August 26 2019 45 46 As part of the expansion of the line south 8 additional streetcars were ordered from CAF which will more than double the size of the fleet 47 The first of the expanded fleet arrived in February 2024 and began testing soon after 48 Expansion editExpansion planning began in 2014 Two studies covered one line north crossing the Missouri River and eight lines heading east west and south from downtown A ballot proposition in August 2014 to add three new rail lines and an improved bus line failed 40 60 49 A grassroots effort to revisit expansion using the same legal structure as the starter line was funded by the private sector 50 An 3 48 miles 5 60 km extension south to University of Missouri Kansas City UMKC along Main Street is currently under construction 51 with completion due by early 2025 10 Extension to UMKC edit In August 2017 voters approved the formation of a transportation development district TDD to help fund an extension south towards UMKC 52 53 In December 2020 the Federal Transit Administration FTA announced it had awarded 174 million for the extension with the remaining 177 million of funding coming from the expanded TDD 54 55 Groundbreaking occurred on April 6 2022 51 In July 2023 Mayor of Kansas City Quinton Lucas called for transit only lanes on Main Street as part of the work 56 57 As of October 2023 update the extension to UMKC is scheduled to open in early 2025 10 Riverfront Extension edit In August 2017 the KC Port Authority announced plans to extend the line 3 4 mile 1 2 km north from the River Market toward the Missouri River connecting to Berkley Riverfront Park and a proposed Kansas City Current soccer stadium 58 59 The extension would be funded by the KC Port Authority as well as by federal TIGER funding 60 In December 2020 14 2 million was awarded by the FTA towards the extension with additional funding required from local sources 61 A groundbreaking ceremony for the project took place on March 1 2024 with completion anticipated to be in 2026 10 62 Future extensions edit In September 2021 the KC Streetcar Authority began studying the potential for a northern extension of the line over the Missouri River to North Kansas City 63 In January 2023 officials noted this would cost around 222 million to build and that a TDD would not cover all its construction cost 64 In October 2021 the KC Streetcar Authority and Kansas City Area Transportation Authority began planning an east west transit line towards University of Kansas Medical Center and Kansas City Kansas 65 66 Initial public consultation indicated that a streetcar line was preferred over bus rapid transit and that a route along 39th Street and Linwood Boulevard was preferred 67 In November 2023 a proposed streetcar route was announced a 5 6 mi 9 0 km line from University of Kansas Medical Center to Van Brunt Boulevard using 39th Street and Linwood Boulevard with 16 proposed stops 68 69 Officials noted that the line would cost between 560 million and 650 million to build and that a TDD would not cover the cost of construction Other funding sources such as federal grants and local regional or state taxes would be considered as alternatives 70 It was noted that a TDD along the route may cover the estimated 8 million operating cost of the line 70 Operating authority edit nbsp A streetcar stops in River Market The streetcar is operated by the Kansas City Streetcar Authority a not for profit corporation that is funded by local taxes The authority was incorporated in August 2012 after voters approved creation of the Kansas City Downtown Transportation Development District 71 a special taxing district that funds construction and operation of a two mile route through downtown Kansas City Legal claims against the district and its taxation power were dismissed in August 2013 72 The streetcar began construction in May 2014 was completed in late 2015 and began carrying passengers in service on May 6 2016 1 The Streetcar Authority s 13 directors a mix of public officials business people and transit advocates were appointed by the City Council and Port Authority in late 2012 and met for the first time as an officially sanctioned body in early 2013 73 The authority s oversight of the streetcar s operation and maintenance is modeled on that of the Portland Streetcar The city council has the power to appoint some of the authority s directors and retains ownership over the system Daily operations and maintenance of the system is handled by Herzog Transit Services under joint contract to the Streetcar Authority and the City of Kansas City The contract was signed in October 2015 74 Economic development editEven prior to the opening of the line in 2016 new development was occurring along the route 75 Analysis by HDR Inc stated that the downtown area along the route received 1 8 billion of development between 2013 and 2018 with a quarter of the investment publicly credited to the creation of the streetcar 76 The streetcar has also been praised by political leaders and venue operators for making Kansas City more attractive for events such as the 2021 Big 12 men s basketball tournament and the 2023 NFL draft 77 In 2021 local businesses stated the extension of the line south to UMKC has also spurred development in the area with 413 million of private investment 78 79 In 2023 it was reported that investors and developers had purchased over 150 properties along the extension route 80 Some residents have been concerned that development along the route will lead to gentrification 81 82 See also editLight rail in the United States List of streetcar systems in the United States historical Streetcars in North AmericaNotes edit a b 2016 ridership figures start from May 6 2016 when the line opened until December 31 2016 References edit a b c Kansas City is on the MOVE with the KC Streetcar KC Streetcar Retrieved March 18 2016 The KC Streetcar FAQs Retrieved February 9 2024 a b c d e f Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2023 PDF Ride KC Streetcar December 2023 Retrieved January 25 2024 Horsley Lynn May 6 2016 After years of planning setbacks hard work KC celebrates streetcar grand opening The Kansas City Star Retrieved May 7 2016 Alonzo Austin January 7 2014 KC will send three city staff members to Spain for streetcar workshops Kansas City Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved April 8 2015 a b FAQS How long is the downtown streetcar route KC Streetcar Retrieved May 24 2016 Streetcars Are Up To Date In Kansas City Forbes June 2013 Archived from the original on July 1 2013 Retrieved June 27 2013 In December Residents of Kansas City approved the construction of a two mile downtown streetcar line after a mail in election a b Horsley Lynn May 22 2014 KC Breaks Ground for Streetcars and OKs Advance Spending on Expansion Kansas City Star Retrieved July 6 2014 FAQS KC Streetcar Cost Pet Information Speed Streetcar Stops Retrieved December 8 2017 a b c d Hendricks Mike October 24 2023 Soaring costs delay Kansas City streetcar riverfront extension When could it be done Kansas City Star Retrieved January 27 2024 a b Hand Gunnar January 15 2013 Streetcar Renaissance The Architect s Newspaper Archpaper com Archived from the original on January 26 2013 Retrieved September 2 2013 Rubin Richard July 4 2018 The Perfect Way to Explore Modern Kansas City A Streetcar Believe It or Not The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved January 26 2024 a b Grabar Henry August 2 2016 Did an American City Finally Build a Good Streetcar Slate ISSN 1091 2339 Retrieved January 26 2024 How to Ride KC Streetcar Alonzo Austin December 12 2012 Kansas City voters approve streetcar plan Kansas City Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved September 2 2013 Alonzo Austin December 21 2012 Kansas City streetcar s first stop Construction plans Kansas City Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved September 2 2013 a b Alonzo Austin October 4 2013 Spanish firm CAF will supply streetcars Kansas City Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved October 6 2013 a b Horsley Lynn November 2 2015 First KC streetcar vehicle rolls into town The Kansas City Star Retrieved November 16 2015 a b Horsley Lynn November 6 2015 Kansas City streetcar passes first test on downtown tracks The Kansas City Star Retrieved November 16 2015 Horsley Lynn July 2 2015 Kansas City streetcar costs are comparable to other cities The Kansas City Star Retrieved May 8 2016 Alonzo Austin May 22 2013 Kansas City streetcar seeks 20 million TIGER grant Kansas City Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved September 2 2013 Alonzo Austin August 30 2013 Kansas City wins 20M federal TIGER grant for streetcar Kansas City Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved September 2 2013 Hernandez Chris CHernandezKCMO May 7 2016 Did we mention kcstreetcar came in 250K UNDER budget Thanks KCMO Public Works for excellent management Tweet via Twitter Johnson Dale kclightrail March 31 2016 kcstreetcar operations is UNDER budget Tweet via Twitter KC Streetcar kcstreetcar May 8 2016 Opening wknd passenger numbers more than 27 000 riders enjoyed the kcstreetcar over 2 days Tweet Retrieved May 8 2016 via Twitter KC Streetcar kcstreetcar May 8 2016 kcstreetcar opening weekend fun fact the fleet traveled nearly 650 miles over two days Tweet Retrieved May 8 2016 via Twitter City officials Streetcar exceeds expectations KSHB May 20 2016 Retrieved November 29 2021 KC Streetcar celebrates its 1 millionth ride KSHB October 13 2016 Retrieved November 29 2021 a b Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2018 PDF Ride KC Streetcar December 2018 Retrieved November 29 2021 Daily Avg ridership 2018 5 794 Projected Daily Average Ridership was 2 700 a b Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2022 PDF Ride KC Streetcar December 31 2022 Retrieved January 18 2023 a b KC Streetcar Ridership KC Streetcar Retrieved November 29 2021 Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2023 PDF American Public Transportation Association November 30 2023 Retrieved December 29 2023 a b Horsley Lynn April 13 2017 Kansas City streetcar director says new vehicles urgently needed Kansas City Star Retrieved December 8 2017 Streetcar celebrates 5 million rides KSHB September 18 2018 Retrieved November 29 2021 a b c Ride KC Streetcar Ridership amp Performance December 2021 PDF Ride KC Streetcar December 2021 Retrieved March 4 2022 KC Streetcar reducing hours in response to COVID 19 KSHB March 19 2020 Retrieved November 29 2021 Board of Directors of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority May 19 2022 Meeting Minutes PDF KC Streetcar May 19 2022 Retrieved October 6 2022 Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance January 2017 PDF Ride KC Streetcar January 2017 Retrieved November 29 2021 Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2017 PDF Ride KC Streetcar December 2017 Retrieved November 29 2021 Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2019 PDF Ride KC Streetcar December 2019 Retrieved November 29 2021 Ride KC Streetcar Ridership and Performance December 2020 PDF Ride KC Streetcar December 2020 Retrieved November 29 2021 FAQS KC Streetcar Cost Pet Information Speed Streetcar Stops Retrieved August 17 2016 KC Streetcar 805 KC Streetcar July 2019 Archived from the original on September 12 2019 Retrieved September 11 2019 KC Streetcar adds 5th vehicle to the Downtown fleet Downtown Council of Kansas City July 3 2019 Archived from the original on July 10 2019 Retrieved July 10 2019 806 Rolls Into Town KC Streetcar August 15 2019 Archived from the original on September 12 2019 Retrieved September 11 2019 Video of car 806 being unloaded on Twitter by KC Streetcar on August 26 2019 KC Streetcar fleet may soon double in size KSHB June 29 2021 Retrieved November 29 2021 Mandelbaum Donna February 8 2024 KC Streetcar 807 is Ready for Night Testing Retrieved February 12 2024 Horsley Lynn August 5 2014 Kansas City streetcar plan stopped in its tracks The Kansas City Star Midtown UMKC Streetcar Extension Resources KCRTA kcrta org Retrieved July 6 2017 a b 351M KC Streetcar Extension Officially Breaks Ground PDF kcstreetcar org April 6 2022 Retrieved July 12 2022 Funds to support KC Streetcar expansion approved KSHB June 20 2018 Retrieved November 29 2021 Voters approve new taxing district for Kansas City streetcar expansion kansascity Retrieved December 8 2017 KC Streetcar extension officially receives 174M in federal funding KSHB January 8 2021 Retrieved November 29 2021 KC Streetcar Extension 174MM FFGA Railway Age December 10 2020 Retrieved November 29 2021 How to Ride KC Streetcar Alonzo Austin December 21 2012 Kansas City streetcar s first stop Construction plans Kansas City Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved September 2 2013 KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension moving forward KSHB March 23 2021 Retrieved November 29 2021 Stadium for Kansas City NWSL to be built along Berkley Riverfront KSHB October 26 2021 Retrieved November 29 2021 Kansas City Streetcar looking to expand service this time rolling to the north Kansas City Star Retrieved December 8 2017 KC Streetcar receives funding to expand north to riverfront park KSHB September 10 2020 Retrieved November 29 2021 Mandelbaum Donna February 22 2024 KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension Groundbreaking Retrieved March 3 2024 With two extensions underway KC streetcar eyes crossing Missouri River into North KC Kansas City Star September 6 2021 Retrieved November 29 2021 Collison Kevin January 6 2023 North Kansas City Streetcar Extension Sidetracked by Financial Concerns Flatland KC Retrieved April 26 2023 KC Streetcar Eyes East West Expansion Railway Age October 4 2021 Retrieved November 29 2021 KC Streetcar to study east west route along 39th Street KSHB October 1 2021 Retrieved November 29 2021 Collison Kevin February 10 2023 East West Streetcar Could Cost 600M Need New Funding Source Flatland KC Retrieved January 26 2024 Hernandez Joseph November 10 2023 An east west streetcar Kansas City transit officials unveil proposal for 16 new stops Kansas City Star Retrieved January 26 2024 Station Location Virtual Public Meeting East West Transit Study PDF Ride KC Streetcar November 9 2023 Retrieved January 26 2023 a b East West Transit Study Executive Summary PDF Ride KC Streetcar May 26 2023 Retrieved January 26 2024 Bender Jonathan August 3 2012 Kansas City Streetcar Authority is up and running The Pitch Kansas City Pitch LLC Archived from the original on October 22 2015 Retrieved March 27 2014 Appeal from the Circuit Court of Jackson County The Honorable Peggy Stevens McGraw Judge The Missouri Court of Appeals Western District August 7 2013 Retrieved March 27 2014 Alonzo Austin January 2 2013 Streetcar Authority mulls options in first official meeting Kansas City Business Journal Bizjournals com Retrieved September 2 2013 DVV Media UK October 9 2015 Herzog Transit Services signs Kansas City Streetcar operating contract Railway Gazette International Archived from the original on December 25 2015 Retrieved December 8 2017 More apartments spring up on KC Streetcar route KSHB May 2 2016 Retrieved November 29 2021 Kansas City Streetcar HDR www hdrinc com Retrieved November 29 2021 The impact KC Streetcar has on Big 12 and other sports events KSHB March 12 2022 Retrieved October 7 2022 Midtown revitalization takes shape with businesses opening streetcar expansion KSHB January 11 2021 Retrieved November 29 2021 Friestad Thomas October 21 2021 Streetcar sees 413M in private investment along southern extension route Kansas City Business Journal Retrieved November 29 2021 Friestad Thomas April 7 2023 Investors make tracks to invest along streetcar Kansas City Business Journal Retrieved April 26 2023 Nozicka Luke September 21 2021 In a rapidly changing Midtown some fear Streetcar expansion will price out neighbors Kansas City Star Retrieved December 3 2021 Streetcar extension is reshaping Kansas City s real estate market potentially pricing out residents KCUR 89 3 NPR in Kansas City July 24 2022 Retrieved October 7 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to RideKC Streetcar KML file edit help Template Attached KML KC StreetcarKML is from Wikidata Official website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title KC Streetcar amp oldid 1220540361, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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