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Take a look at our KC Streetcar FAQs for the information you’re looking for and if you still have questions, feel free to reach out to us through our contact us form or by email at info@kcstreetcar.org.
Parking on Main Street was a priority for the properties on the route and the City has recently widened some spaces as a result of public opinion.
The parallel space widths were set based on the available width between the face of the curb and the dynamic envelope of the streetcar. Because the rail alignment and the curb lines aren’t parallel throughout the alignment, those widths vary.
Widths are more uniform elsewhere in the city, but we have to be flexible to safely accommodate motorists and the streetcar on Main Street.
The varied parking widths are an attempt to preserve as much parking for businesses as possible. The alternate approach would be to set an arbitrary parking width requirement and eliminate any areas of parking that did not meet that width. We chose to listen to the businesses and preserve as much parking as we could.
The parallel space widths were set based on the available width between the face of the curb and the dynamic envelope of the streetcar. Because the rail alignment and the curb lines aren’t parallel throughout the alignment, those widths vary.
Widths are more uniform elsewhere in the city, but we have to be flexible to safely accommodate motorists and the streetcar on Main Street.
The varied parking widths are an attempt to preserve as much parking for businesses as possible. The alternate approach would be to set an arbitrary parking width requirement and eliminate any areas of parking that did not meet that width. We chose to listen to the businesses and preserve as much parking as we could.
The KC Streetcar is free to ride, which means there is no fare to ride on the streetcar as it travels the 2 miles through the heart of downtown.
Service dogs are permitted on the KC Streetcar. Service dogs must either be in a small carrier or leashed and under control of their owner.
The KC Streetcar runs with traffic, so it travels at posted speed limits. Streetcar vehicles are capable of traveling at speeds up to at least 45 – 60 miles per hour. It is unlikely the streetcar will reach those speeds in the Downtown environment.
Bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers (and other wheeled vehicles) are able to board and disembark from the middle car.
A streetcar is an electric, fixed-rail public transportation vehicle that uses a steel-tracked fixed path. It will run in existing street lanes, just like other vehicles. Streetcars are generally designed to serve shorter local trips rather than long commute-type trips.
The KC Downtown Streetcar line was designed to complement the current RideKC bus system and is the next step in developing a more comprehensive transit system for the Kansas City region.
As of 2020, we have six KC Streetcar vehicles. As we expand the system, additional streetcars will be needed.
Each vehicle is 77 feet and 8 inches long; 78,000 pounds; and 12 feet tall.
Each vehicle capacity is approximately 150 riders and is bi-directional (can run both directions). There is a combination of sitting and standing within the streetcar.
There are three “cars” in each streetcar vehicle, with 4 sets of doors (one on each end and two in the middle car).
YES. Thanks to our partnership with RideKC, all KC Streetcar vehicles are equipped with free Wi-Fi access for passengers. There is also free Wi-Fi along the streetcar route, thanks to the City of Kansas City, MO.
Vehicles will offer audio and digital stop announcements. There are also route maps inside all streetcar vehicles and at all stops.
Streetcars are quiet. Pedestrians and bystanders are encouraged to be alert and unplug from electronic devices while crossing the streetcar tracks. Be Smart. Be Safe. Be Ready. Respect the Rail.
The route is 2.2 miles long and travels along Main Street in downtown Kansas City from the River Market to Union Station/Crown Center. The route also includes a loop around the City Market and runs on 3rd St on the north, Delaware on the west, 5th St on the south, and Grand on the east.
There are 16 streetcar stops, approximate 2-3 blocks apart. 15 of those have streetcar shelters and digital kiosks.
The Kansas City Public Service, which managed the streetcar system more than 50 years ago, had a total of 184 vehicles. These vehicles arrived onto the scene in three batches: the 501-585 series; the 701-724 series; and the 725-799 series. The new KC Streetcar vehicles, which are modern, sleek, climate-controlled and Wi-Fi enabled, are picking up the numbering where it left off more than 50 years ago. The new series is the 801-806 series.
The streetcar travels in the automobile lanes at travel speeds. There will be some delays when the streetcar stops to pick up and let passengers out. Main Street has been redesigned to include turn lanes at intersections and intersection operations have been planned to minimize delays. In addition, the adjacent streets (Walnut Street and Baltimore Street) have been converted from one-way to two-way streets to provide additional north-south capacity.
The streetcar operates like other motor vehicles on the road and will stop for red lights. If the streetcar is close to the intersection, the system may be able to keep the light green for a few extra seconds so the streetcar can pass through without stopping.
Safety on the KC Streetcar is a high priority. Each vehicle is equipped with 12 cameras, both inside and outside the vehicle. These images are captured and transmitted to our operations center. There are monitors placed inside the Operators’ cab as well.
The KC Streetcar route does have an end terminus at Union Station. When passengers travel south on Main Street, they will have to disembark and collect their belongings once at the Union Station stop. At that time, the streetcar operator will perform a sweep of the vehicle to make sure everyone is off and all is safe. Once complete, riders are able to get back on board if they choose.
Safety on the KC Streetcar is a high priority. Each vehicle is equipped with 16 cameras, both inside and outside the vehicle. These images are captured and transmitted to our operations center. There are monitors placed inside the Operators’ cab as well. We are also partnered with the KC Police Department and the Downtown Council CID Ambassadors to serve as an extra set of eyes on the streetcars at certain times of the day/week for added security.
On opening weekend, no. Due to the number of events happening throughout the city, and the anticipated crowds attending, no parking will be enforced on Main Street and on the south side of 5th Street during the opening weekend.
For details on parking during regular operating hours, please visit the KC Streetcar general FAQ page: https://kcstreetcar.org/about-streetcar/faqs/
The KC Streetcar operates every day, even on holidays. A full list operating hours are available here: https://kcstreetcar.org/route/hours-of-operation/
Bicycles, wheelchairs and strollers are allowed on the KC Streetcar..
YES! The KC Streetcar is free to ride all the time!
The southern point of the downtown streetcar route is located at Union Station on Main Street. Typically, layovers at that stop are 2 minutes. This allows all passengers to exit the streetcar, and the operators and other streetcar team members to walk the streetcar vehicle, picking up any trash and cleaning the area.
A layover at Union Station also allows the streetcar operators to evenly distribute/time streetcars on the route and keep to schedule.
Upon arriving at your destination, wait for the streetcar to come to a complete stop. Once stopped, press the circular green door button to open the streetcar doors.
Allow passengers to exit the streetcar before boarding.
If you plan to cross the street after exiting the streetcar, please use marked crosswalks.
When exiting the streetcar at the River Market North stop, please remember that doors open on the left side and once you exit the streetcar, turn right on the platform.
The downtown KC Streetcar operating budget is comprised mostly of funds collected within the TDD. Those revenues include:
The downtown Streetcar route is 2.2 miles and runs from Union Station on the south to the City Market (River Market area) on the north. A full loop (Union Station – Union Station) takes approximately 27-30 minutes depending on traffic. A one way run (Union Station to the River Market North stop) takes about 15 minutes.
The KC Streetcar Authority monitors and tracks daily ridership on board the KC Streetcar. Streetcar ridership, otherwise known as “Unlinked Passenger Trips,” is the national standard used by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for calculating usage on public transportation systems across the county.
KC Streetcar ridership, or UPTs, is calculated by Automated Passenger Counters (APC) located over each door of each streetcar vehicle. Passengers are counted as they board and exit the streetcars, and the data collected shows which stops are the most used and which hours of the day are the busiest.
The ridership data is downloaded daily and reviewed by a third-party for accuracy. During July 2016, members from the Ride KC team performed thirty additional manual passenger counts in order to check the APC system for accuracy. The conclusion of that activity was that the APC counts were 98.6% accurate, and were undercounting 1.4% of actual counts.
The downtown KC Streetcar route, or starter line, cost $102 million to design and construct. The funding was a combination of City of Kansas City, Missouri, special obligation bonds, a special property assessment and one-cent sales tax collection within the downtown Transportation Development District (TDD,) and federal grant money including a $20 million TIGER grant. The downtown KC Streetcar project was delivered on time and under budget.
The KC Streetcar will operate leading up to, and during, the NFL Draft, with some modifications. There will be increased frequency and extended hours of operation, making the KC Streetcar the best way to get to all NFL Draft activities:
Based on current plans, starting the Wednesday of NFL Draft week (April 26), the Union Station streetcar stop will be closed to passenger service. During this time and throughout the NFL Draft, southbound KC Streetcar passenger service will terminate at the Crossroads Southbound streetcar stop at 19th & Main. This means all passengers will need to de-board at that location. Passengers, pedestrians, and automobile traffic will not be able to access Main Street south of 20th Street during this time.
More information about KC Streetcar operations during the 2023 NFL Draft can be found here: https://kcstreetcar.org/nfl-draft-2023/