Kansas City Streetcar Expansion Opens May 18th

0:00It's April 21st. This is Kansas News today, your AI-powered local news. Kansas City street car riders are about to level up big time. The Riverfront Extension opens Monday, May 18th, letting fans roll straight from the University of Missouri, Kansas City all the way to CPKC. Stadium, Berkeley Riverfront Park, and the Missouri River. After nearly a decade of planning, this 6.5 mile spine finally connects the dots from downtown to the north end. Operators have been testing the 0.7 mile stretch, with 12,000 feet of overhead wire and 8,300 feet of, track laid over the last two years. The Grand Boulevard pedestrian bridge popped open early May for walkers and bikers, linking Rivermarket to the Riverfront right by the tracks. A cool sculptural pavilion at the north end will give riders shade and seats, stowed after the Missouri River itself. Folks are hyped. Monthly ridership has more than doubled since the main street extension last October.

1:01In February, daily averages hit 8,829 passengers, up from just 2,361 the year, before. It's sparking that reconnection to the Riverfront for a whole new generation. No cash on deck for more builds right now, but the street car authorities digging into options. Their feasibility studying an east-west line from crossroads to 18th and Vine, plus past looks that routes to University of Kansas Medical. Center, and even across to North Kansas City. Mark your calendars for the 11am kickoff celebration on May 18th. This extension set to keep the momentum rolling, weaving Kansas cities. Neighborhoods tighter than ever.