Transportation
Streetcar Extension Plan Wins Key Support From Federal Agency
By Kevin Collison Federal transit officials have rated the Kansas City Streetcar Authority’s $151.6 million funding application “medium high,” a vital step toward building the planned extension from downtown to UMKC. While the Federal Transit Administration rating doesn’t guarantee funding in the pending federal budget, anything below a medium rating would have killed the project’s…
Streetcar Voices: Downtown Riders Tell It Like It Is
By Brian McTavish The Kansas City Streetcar has provided free transportation to more than 5.5 million riders since opening in May 2016. But the reasons for hopping aboard can vary as much as the downtown travelers it brings together. For devoted downtowners, the streetcar is a key factor in more conveniently living and working in…
Plans Underway to Reconnect Walnut Street Through City Market
By Kevin Collison The city is planning to reopen Walnut Street to traffic through the City Market on weekdays, reconnecting the original street grid with the goal of bringing more activity to businesses along its east side. Walnut had been a two-way traffic route through the Market up until about 30 years ago. It then…
Proposed Pedestrian/Bicycle Span to Downtown Riverfront Well-Received
By Kevin Collison The latest design for a proposed bicycle/pedestrian bridge to Berkley Riverfront Park was warmly received last week but people will have to chill a little longer to learn how the project could be financed. Port KC hosted the public meeting on the ped/bike span, part of the larger plan to use the…
Streetcar Ridership Up 2.6 Percent Last Year, Fed Shutdown May Delay Word on Expansion
By Kevin Collison The Kansas City streetcar rolled out of 2018 with ridership up 2.6 percent over the previous year and looking for signals early in the new year about its planned expansions to the riverfront and UMKC. The downtown streetcar attracted 2,114,886 rides last year compared to 2,060,327 in 2017. Overall, more than 5.5…