Riverfront Extension

Opening in Early 2026

November 2025 Update

Progress continues as the Riverfront Extension project nears completion. As of mid-November, the project is 97% complete with construction. A majority of the work is completed including:

Installation of all rail
Installation of all Overhead Catenary System (OCS) poles and wires
Installation of the Traction Power Substation (TPSS)
A new two-way cycle track on Grand Boulevard between 2nd Street and 3rd Street
Construction of the two new platforms, including installation of the new shelters
Connections to the existing track at 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard and to the Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF)
Installation of posts and chains in the riverfront to protect the track

As the project nears the Simulated Testing Phase, remaining construction activities to be complete include adjustments to the OCS wires, pouring concrete for various sidewalks in the project area, adding glass and windscreens to the shelters, and clean up activities throughout the project area.

Project Fun Facts:

76 new OCS poles, varying from 28 feet high to 54 feet high
Approximately 12,000 feet of OCS wire
One new Traction Power Sub-Station (TPSS)
Over 8,300 feet of new track
296 posts with nearly 2,200 linear feet of chain

June 2025 Update

Progress continues on the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension. Three new streetcar station shelters were installed in mid-June at Berkley Riverfront and on Grand Boulevard just north of 3rd Street. These shelters, part of the Riverfront Extension, feature the familiar blue steel frames, acrylic canopy panels, upgraded lighting, and hardware consistent with those used on the Main Street Extension. Station stop markers, including Real-Time Arrival (RTA) signs, will be installed later.

Watch the latest Tiny Mic Video Episode.

April 2025 Update:

Just 14 months after breaking ground, the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension project reached a major milestone – 100 percent of track work is now complete. Additionally, Grand Boulevard/Berkley Parkway Bridge work wrapped up early and is officially open. Read more about building track on the Grand Boulevard Bridge here.

Stay in the loop on all Riverfront Extension construction news with the weekly Tiny Mic Video series.

Follow the Riverfront Extension construction progress on the project website: www.riverfrontextension.com.

Project information & plans

These are just information plans and not the official bid documents.

Groundbreaking held on March 1, 2024

UPDATE: February 28, 2023

KC Streetcar rail delivery began this week for the Riverfront Extension

Rail delivery of 200 tons of 112 Tram Rail began this week for the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension. The delivery arrived via nine trucks over two days and included 275 sticks of rail. Each rail stick is 39 feet long and weighs almost 1,500 pounds. The temporary storage area is located just east of the Port KC office.

This specific project rail is a special order. The 112 Tram Rail provides a shorter profile so it can be installed onto the existing Grand Avenue Viaduct with minimum impact to the existing bridge structure. The remainder of the riverfront extension will use 115# T-Rail, which is also the same rail on the downtown streetcar route. The remainder of the Riverfront Extension project rail is anticipated to be delivered in 2024.

Once complete, the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension will connect from the downtown line at 3rd Street and Grand Boulevard in the River Market, travel on the existing Grand Avenue Viaduct and end near the midpoint of Berkley Riverfront. The Kansas City Streetcar Authority (KCSA), the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), Port KC and the City of Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) are partnering to deliver the project.

Public Outreach

On December 8, 2022, the project team held a public meeting for the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension & Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge project. If you missed the meeting, click the links before for more information.

The KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension project will extend the mobility and economic development benefits of the Kansas City Streetcar to a long-dormant area near downtown – catalyzing economic development and job creation.

Click here for the latest KC Streetcar Route Map which includes the Downtown Line, the Main Street extension, and the Riverfront extension. This route map also includes streetcar stop locations.

The above 2017 video is of a possible KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension. Since then, there has been further work to bring the KC Streetcar to mid-river and includes other design changes.

Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge

The City of Kansas City, Missouri, is working on the Grand Boulevard bike/pedestrian bridge project which will add a pathway or pair of pathways to the outside of the existing bridge. This will be a Bridge dedicated facility for bicyclists and pedestrians, separate from vehicular traffic and the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension.

The improvements will provide a safe and continuous connection between the River Market neighborhood/business district and the Berkley Riverfront area. This section of Grand Boulevard is part of the proposed Bike KC plan to include separated bicycle facilities. The project will also include pedestrian accommodations in alignment with the KCMO Walkability Plan to complete the missing pedestrian link to Berkley Riverfront Park.