KC Streetcar back running after temporary shutdown to connect with Main Street extension
The KC Streetcar rolled back into service Tuesday evening after crews completed a critical track tie-in connecting the downtown Kansas City route with the Main Street extension, the streetcar authority announced.
The streetcar suspended service on Sept. 30 and used buses marked “Streetcar Link” to take passengers along the streetcar route. According to a news release, the work was to last about four weeks, but was completed ahead of schedule.
“We’re excited to be back in service and to bring Kansas City closer to the future of transit with the Main Street Extension,” said Tom Gerend, Executive Director of the KC Streetcar Authority. “We appreciate the community’s patience during the temporary streetcar suspension and are eager to continue serving the downtown area while we make progress on this significant expansion.”
During the shutdown, crews connected the downtown route to the Main Street extension, a roughly 3.5-mile expansion south to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
In addition to the track work, crews also:
- Demolished and removed existing track turnouts and slabs.
- Removed the existing crossover north of Pershing Road.
- Replaced expansion joints on the Main Street viaduct.
- Welded rail and constructed the final northbound and southbound track in the area.
- Rehabilitated the bridge deck on the Main Street viaduct.
- Built a northbound Union Station stop.
- Installed the poles and overhead wires for the streetcar.
- Paved and striped the roadway and installed new traffic signs.
During the shutdown, crews also did routine maintenance along the downtown route.
With the new Union Station northbound stop, all riders headed north will board on the east side of Main Street at Pershing Road.
Passengers traveling south to Union Station will need to exit at Union Station. Those wanting to reboard to ride north will need to cross the street at either the mid-block crosswalk or the crosswalk at the corner of Main Street and Pershing Road after the streetcar departs the Union Station southbound stop.
KC Streetcar expects to open the Main Street extension to riders in 2025.
