Streetcar extension to Kansas City’s Berkley Riverfront just hit a big milestone
A streetcar reached the Kansas City riverfront for the first time Wednesday as testing on the northern extension line rolled ahead, the Kansas City Streetcar Authority said.
Wednesday marked the first “live wire” test for the .7-mile extension of the streetcar line, which will soon carry passengers from the River Market to the Berkley Riverfront and near CPKC Stadium. The test marked the first time the system was energized and the first time a streetcar ever traveled to the riverfront in Kansas City’s history, the authority said.
Officials said the opening of the extension is on track for early 2026.
“After years of planning, design, and construction we’re thrilled to see the first streetcar reach the riverfront,” Streetcar Authority Executive Director Tom Gerend said in a statement. “We are one step closer to realizing our vision of a connected and vibrant riverfront that will serve all of Kansas City for decades to come.”
Ahead of the first live testing, crews ran “dead wire” testing with a special cart to verify that the streetcar could make the trip safely. More testing and work on finishing touches along the extension line, including signals, shelters and curbs, can be expected in the coming weeks.
During the testing, drivers and pedestrians can expect minor delays around Grand Boulevard between 3rd Street and the riverfront, the authority said.
The line will terminate at its furthest northern point at a $5 million outdoor pavilion with seating and cover for people waiting for a ride.
With the new extension to the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus on the southern end of the line, the streetcar has seen significant ridership growth, the agency said. The southern extension opened in late October, and November had the highest monthly ridership in system history.
November saw a daily average of 11,397 passenger trips and a ridership jump of about 2.5 times last November’s numbers, according to the agency.
