Winter Weather Prep

The KC Streetcar team prepares for the winter weather

January 8, 2024

The KC Streetcar will operate with regular Monday & Tuesday hours of 6:00 a.m. – Midnight unless conditions deteriorate and it is unsafe to operate. To stay updated on KC Streetcar service and hours, sign up for RideKC Notify Text Alerts by texting “streetcar’ to 816-685-8541 or visiting ridekc.alertmedia.com/public. Also visit the KC Streetcar on social media on X, Facebook, and Instagram for information and photos.

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In advance of ice or snow events, the KC Streetcar team installs heaters on some of the streetcar pantographs in order to melt ice or snow accumulation on the overhead wires. The team pre-treats trackways and platforms with a calcium chloride and magnesium chloride blend and use the track sweeper, or “Brushy McBrushface”, to clear accumulating snow from the trackways. This is repeated as necessary.


The streetcars are equipped with sanders that automatically engage when additional traction is needed on the tracks, which may occur during wet weather events. The track switches (located at Union Station, 3rd & Grand and at the Singleton Yard) are equipped with underground heaters to keep the mechanisms warm and pliable. While we don’t anticipate the suspension of streetcar service, we will operate with extreme caution during this weather event, reducing speeds when needed and using caution when approaching intersections and crosswalks.

Starting Monday evening and during the early hours of Tuesday, January 9, KC Streetcar crews will:

• Treat all streetcar tracks, stops, and platforms
• Prepare streetcar vehicles for Tuesday service start at 6:00am

KC Streetcar service is anticipated to start on time on Tuesday morning at 6:00 a.m. with three-vehicle streetcar service. While we don’t anticipate the suspension of streetcar service, we will operate with extreme caution during this weather event, reducing speeds when needed and using caution when approaching intersections and crosswalks. If weather conditions become hazardous, streetcar service may be reduced to two streetcar vehicles to ensure the safety of our operators, riders, and traveling public. 

A special note to property owners and businesses on the streetcar route: When removing snow from the sidewalk and/or property, please take care not to shovel the snow onto the streetcar tracks. Snow, especially packed snow, can interfere with streetcar operations. It is important to keep the tracks clear of snow and ice.

Main Street is a designated emergency snow route by the City of Kansas City, Missouri. When it snows, motorists are urged to park vehicles off-street when snow depths exceed two inches. Parking cars off-street helps City plows and KC Streetcar crews to better remove snow from the tracks and continue safe streetcar operations. 

If a vehicle must park on-street, the City requests the following parking practice:

• Do not park along the KC Streetcar Route designated an Emergency Snow Route (Main Street from 6th Street to Pershing Road)
• On streets that run north/south, park vehicles on the west side of the street
• On streets that run east/west, park vehicles on the north side of the street