Kansas City streetcar will undergo first powered test Thursday

It’s power-up time for KC Streetcar No. 801.

The new streetcar is scheduled Thursday morning to roll down Main Street under its own electrical power for the first time.

The test is to start at 7 a.m., and the streetcar plans to make three trips around the 2.2-mile track alignment that runs from the River Market to Union Station.

The streetcar will be tested under various speeds as it travels around corners and approaches passenger platforms. The checks will cover overhead wires, clearance and visibility issues, the KC Streetcar Authority said.

The vehicle went through its initial shakedown last week after arriving from the manufacturing plant in Elmira, N.Y., but it was towed by a giant truck to monitor the route. The city said the first test went well.

The streetcar authority urges the public to stay a safe distance from the tracks and crews while the tests are being performed. Any vehicles parked on the tracks or over a white-line barrier painted on the street will be towed, the authority said.

Streetcar No. 801 is the first of four vehicles that will be used for Kansas City’s $100 million downtown starter route. If all the tests go well, the city hopes to begin the service in March 2016 in time for the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament.

For more information, go to kcstreetcar.org.

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Kansas City streetcar will undergo first powered test Thursday."