Answering your KC Streetcar questions on parking, Main Street lanes, cost & more
After years of elections, traffic cones and testing, the grand opening for the Kansas City streetcar Main Street extension is almost a week, on Friday, Oct. 24.
The 3.5 miles of tracks will bring new ways for residents to get to work, school and favorite restaurants. But it brings challenges, like navigating red stripes on Main and understanding the new stops.
Through a form and on Reddit, The Star asked Kansas Citians to share their questions about the new streetcar extension. We received more than 20 questions, from how to navigate the new line to what’s next for the streetcar system.
If there’s anything else you want to know, email the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
How long does it take for the streetcar to get from point A to point B?
With the extension, the streetcar takes approximately 30 minutes to go from the River Market to the University of Missouri-Kansas City and vice versa. The vehicles still come every 10 to 15 minutes.
On average, it takes 1.5 minutes to go from stop to stop, though this depends on a variety of factors like vehicle traffic and the number of stops requested, people getting on and off at each stop and red lights, according to Donna Mandelbaum, spokesperson for the KC Streetcar Authority.
Where will the KC Streetcar expand to next?
Crews finished laying tracks on the 0.7-mile riverfront extension to Berkley Riverfront Park and the KC Current Stadium, which is expected to open in spring 2026.
The KC Streetcar Authority is working on a feasibility study for an east-west route from the Crossroads to 18th and Vine. From now until May, the authority is hosting community meetings and assessing the state of the corridor.
The organization has previously researched two other extensions. Officials are currently looking for money to build them, Mandelbaum said.
From 2022 to 2024, a study looked into the possibility of an east-west streetcar connecting the University of Kansas Medical Center and the VA Hospital along 39th Street and Linwood Boulevard.
Twice, the authority has researched extending the streetcar across the river into North Kansas City, first in 2014 and then in 2021-22.
Will the streetcar come to south Kansas City neighborhoods like Brookside and Waldo?
Although the KC Streetcar Authority does not have any formal plans to bring the streetcar south of UMKC, the Brookside and Waldo neighborhoods have a storied history with streetcars.
From the late 1800s to 1957, the Country Club streetcar line ran on what is now the Trolley Trail. This line was the southernmost of the system and one of the last to close.
What do the red stripes on the road mean?
There’s definitely a learning curve to driving around these red and white stripes. The Star previously shared how to navigate Main Street’s new transit-only lanes.
Generally, you should only drive on the midtown tracks when you’re about to make a turn. The traffic signs can also help you remember.
If you get caught breaking the rules, you could be fined $50.
However, the city and KCPD haven’t started enforcing these traffic laws. Ryan McMonigle, spokesperson for public works, said Tuesday that the rules are still the educational phase, giving drivers a grace period to learn the law, and the agencies have not decided when enforcement will start.
Where can I park to ride the streetcar?
There are two designated park-and-ride lots. 160 spots are located at the UMKC parking garage at 5050 Oak St, which will cost $1.25 an hour.
The other 54 are located at the parking lot near Winstead’s at Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and Main. The pricing has not been announced for this lot.
You can also park on the street along the route and at free garages on the Plaza.
Where are the stops?
There are eight new stops over the extension’s 3.5 miles. Below you can find an interactive map with their locations.
Here are the Kansas City streetcar Main Street extension stops:
- WWI Museum and Memorial, 27th and Main
- Union Hill, 31st and Main
- Armour, Armour and Main
- Westport, 39th and Main
- Southmoreland, 43rd and Main
- Art Museums, 45th and Main
- Plaza, Emanuel Cleaver II and Brookside Boulevard
- UMKC, 51st and Brookside Boulevard
What are the hours?
After the extension opens on Oct. 24, the streetcar will start running at 5 a.m., an hour earlier than before.
You can ride until midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Who paid for the streetcar extension?
In 2018, midtown voters agreed to increase sales and property taxes near the line to help fund the streetcar.
A $174 million federal grant paid for approximately half of the project.
Why did testing take so long?
Crews have been testing in midtown since January, almost 10 months. KC Streetcar Authority had to make sure infrastructure worked correctly, to complete the Safety and Security Certification Verification.
To accommodate the extension, the streetcar more than tripled its workforce, so the new operators had to complete training, Mandelbaum said.
You can read more about the testing process on the KC Streetcar website.
Is there security on the streetcar?
Titan security guards will patrol the streetcars all along the route.
Previously, the Downtown Community Improvement District provided security, but with the streetcar extending outside the city center, the organization had to find a new contractor.
In December, Tom Gerend, executive director of the KC Streetcar Authority, said the Titan guards “have a higher degree of training, they have more capability, and then they obviously have the ability to support the operations along the entirety of the expanded alignment.”
What should I do if I notice a problem with the new curbs, striping, turn signals or more?
You can report traffic or infrastructure issues to the city government through the 311 system, either on the city’s website, app or by calling 311.
Have more questions about the KC Streetcar Main Street extension? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
