KC Streetcar Main Street Extension Hits 100% Track Completion

Written By Katie Hynes

The community is invited to a celebratory event near the future KC Streetcar Plaza Transit Center.

 
 

(Kansas City, MO) – After more than two and a half years of streetcar construction, the KC Streetcar Constructors have completed installation of all streetcar track on the Main Street Extension. A total of 36,785 feet of rail make up the 3.5 mile extension from Union Station to UMKC, including the expansion at the Kite E. Singleton Maintenance Yard (KC Streetcar Vehicle Maintenance Facility).  

Project partners, business owners, councilmembers, community members, and the public are invited to celebrate this milestone. The event will begin with a short speaker program featuring remarks from project partners, councilmembers, and City leadership. 

Site map for the Community Celebration Event.

Media Availability and Community Celebration Event: 

  • WHAT: Let’s Celebrate the end of Track Construction  

  • WHEN: December 2, 2024, from 2 – 3 p.m.  

  • WHERE: On the east side of the future Plaza Transit Center near the intersection of Main Street and Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard.  

  • AGENDA: Special remarks will be delivered by FTA Region 7 Administrator Carrie Butler, Mayor Quinton Lucas, City Manager Brian Platt. Council members from District 4 and 6 and members from Public Works will also be in attendance. Attendees will be able to preview the Plaza Transit Center and enjoy refreshments from various businesses along the construction corridor.   

  • PARKING: Street parking is available on Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard between Main Street and Oak Street and in the parking lot just west of Winstead’s.  

MEDIA: Interview opportunities will be held outside of the work zone, so PPE will not be required for media. Closed-toed shoes are preferred.  

For construction questions, contact Katie Meyer with the KC Streetcar Constructors at 816-337-1013 or info@buildkcstreetcar.com. For KC Streetcar questions, contact Donna Mandelbaum, KC Streetcar Authority at 816-877-3219 and dmandelbaum@kcstreetcar.org. For Kansas City, Missouri questions, contact Sherae Honeycutt, Press Secretary and City Spokeswoman at 816-946-3611 and Sherae.Honeycutt@kcmo.org.  

In addition to track work, the KC Streetcar Constructors have also completed:  

  • Installation of 15 new streetcar stops, including the signature stops at the Plaza Transit Center and UMKC.  

  • The signature stops include a center platform to allow for double-sided boarding.

  • The other 13 standard platforms are side platforms, allowing for single-sided boarding.  

  • The Plaza Transit Center will be a multi-modal hub for streetcars, buses and bicyclists.  

  • Updated real-time-arrival signs.  

  • The new stops for the Main Street Extension are in the following locations:

    • Northbound Union Station stop at Pershing Road and Main Street

    • Northbound WWI Museum and Memorial at 27th Street and Main Street

    • Southbound WWI Museum and Memorial at 27th Street and Main Street

    • Northbound Union Hill stop at 31st Street and Main Street

    • Southbound Union Hill stop at 31st Street and Main Street

    • Northbound Armour stop at Armour Road and Main Street

    • Southbound Armour stop at Armour Road and Main Street

    • Northbound Westport stop at 39th Street and Main Stret

    • Southbound Westport stop at 39th Street and Main Street

    • Northbound Southmoreland stop at 43rd Street and Main Street

    • Southbound Southmoreland stop at 43rd Street and Main Street

    • Northbound Art Museums stop at 45th Street and Main Street

    • Southbound Art Museums stop at 45th Street and Main Street

    • Plaza Transit Center at Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and Brookside Boulevard

    • University of Missouri – Kansas City stop at 51st Street and Brookside Boulevard

  • Replacement of of 20,500 square feet of crosswalks, 145,839 square feet of sidewalk, 32,482 linear feet of curb, and 31,494 square feet of ADA ramps.

  • Installation and landscaping of new medians and a bioretention basin green infrastructure site at Main Street and Memorial Drive The bioretention basin can hold more than 100,000 gallons of water to help with stormwater runoff.  

  • More than one mile of new pavement and pavement markings on Main Street between Pershing Road and Linwood Boulevard.  

The close of 2024 will mark the end of heavy construction. Other construction activities will continue in 2025, including:

  • Construction of the Midtown KC Streetcar Annex. The Annex houses one of the five TPSS sites and although no tracks will lead into the facility, it will support maintenance-of-way activities and store supplies to support maintenance of streetcar stops.  

  • Completion of mill and overlay of Main Street between Linwood Boulevard and 51 Street.

  • Final pavement markings for transit-only streetcar lanes throughout the construction corridor.  

  • Installation of streetcar stop amenities including benches, bike racks and trash cans.  

  • Completion of landscaping throughout the corridor.  

  • Completion of a pedestrian plaza south of the UMKC streetcar stop near the intersection of 51st Street and Brookside Boulevard. This pedestrian plaza will serve as a pathway between the Trolley Trail and Colonial shops and includes some elements designed by UMKC students during the 2020-2021 school year.

  • Pedestrian upgrades near westbound Ward Parkway, including new curbs, sidewalks, ADA ramps and the elimination of the slip lane on Brookside Boulevard onto westbound Ward Parkway.  

  • Systems and integrated testing will kick off in early 2025.  

Stay on track with the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension by visiting https://buildkcstreetcar.com and signing up for Weekly Construction Updates or contact the KC Streetcar Constructors at info@buildkcstreetcar.com.

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Katie Hynes
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