Construction of the KC Streetcar in front of Union Station was completed ahead of schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The KC Streetcar Authority announced several changes, including that the streetcar itself will travel south of Pershing Road for the first time since the 1950s.

That doesn’t mean travelers are heading south, but the streetcar will travel through the Main Street intersection and then wait for the train signal to let it through to pick up passengers at a newly constructed stop across from Union Station.

It’s a historic moment, but there’s still a lot of work to be done before the southbound route to UMKC opens.

Donna Mandelbaum, communications director for the KC Streetcar Authority, said, “It was interesting to dig up some of the history and then we’re bringing it back using the same technology.”

KC Streetcar Constructors have been working for the past three weeks to complete the track tie-in work ahead of schedule. They thought it would take four weeks, but managed to do it in about three weeks.

In addition to track work, KC Streetcar Constructors’ work also included:

• Demolition and removal of existing track switches and track slabs.
• Removal of existing intersection north of Pershing Road.
• Replacement of expansion joints on Main Street Viaduct.
• Welding the rails and building the final north and southbound tracks needed in the area.
• Renovation of the Main Street Viaduct bridge deck.
• Construction of a northbound Union Station stop.
• Installation of OCS masts and overhead lines.
• The roadway was paved and paved and new traffic control signage was installed.

Shine Tarbucco is in Kansas City for a conference and rode the streetcar for the first time Wednesday afternoon.

“To see things like this in a city that’s not like Chicago or New York, and it’s free and really accessible, is mind-blowing to me,” Tarbucco said. “Sometimes at conferences I never go outside all day, so this also allows me to explore more in a shorter amount of time.”

The completed structure showed a growing city for people like Edward Velazquez Reynald, who accompanied Tarbucco at the conference and also rode the tram for the first time.

“It’s more pedestrian-friendly because you can walk a lot more on public transportation and explore the city in ways you wouldn’t otherwise,” he said.

An important test component is the traffic light communication process between the street lights and the signals for those who are currently driving, riding the tram or walking through the intersection.

“When someone presses the pedestrian button, how does that communicate with the train signal and all these things that we have to think about,” Mandelbaum said. “We need to do this for every intersection as we march south to UMKC.”

Another part of the testing process was to train operators, as no one had driven south of Pershing Road before Tuesday evening.

Mandelbaum recounted her experience driving through the intersection for the first time and making history.

“Our operator was very emotional and we felt like we made history,” she said. “I was so happy to be a part of it, so we can’t wait for our riders to have the same experience.”

She said they had now completed 98% of the track construction and there would be three more trams on the line by the end of the year.

“There is a lot of big news about streetcars for the rest of this year and into next year,” she said.

They will unveil one of the new streetcars “soon,” according to Mandelbaum, who said it will be similar to the streetcars currently on the route, but inside it will be a different experience with its passenger information system, including different signage and audio announcements.

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