Construction of the KC Streetcar outside Union Station has been completed ahead of schedule

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

That doesn’t mean commuters head south, but the streetcar goes through the Main Street intersection and then waits for the train signal to let them through to pick up passengers at a newly built stop in front of Union Station.

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

KC Streetcar Authority communications director Donna Mandelbaum said, “It’s been interesting to dig up a piece of history and then we’re bringing it back with the same kind of technology.”

For the past three weeks, KC streetcar builders have been working to complete the track connection work and have done so ahead of schedule. They expected it to take four weeks, but they did it in about three.

In addition to trackwork, KC Streetcar Constructors work included:

• Demolition and removal of road diversions and existing road slabs.
• Removal of the existing crossing located north of Pershing Road.
• Replacement of the expansion joint of the Carrer Major viaduct.
• Welding of the lane and construction of the final track in the north and south direction required in the area.
• Rehabilitation of the deck of the Carrer Major viaduct bridge.
• Construction of a northbound Union Station stop.
• Installation of OCS poles and aerial cables.
• The roadway has been paved and graded and new traffic control signage has been 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, it’s kind of mind-blowing to me,” Tarbucco said. “Sometimes at conferences I never get out all day, so this kind of allows me to explore more in less time, too.”

The completed construction showed a growing city for those like Edward Velazquez Reynald, joining Tarbucco at the conference and also riding the streetcar for the first time.

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

An important component of the test is the process of communicating traffic signals between streetlights and signals for those driving, riding the streetcar or passing through the intersection now.

“If someone is pushing the pedestrian button, how does that communicate with the train signal and all these things we have to think about,” Mandelbaum said. “We’re going to have to do that at every intersection as we go south to UMKC.”

Another part of the testing process was operator training, as none had traveled south of Pershing Road before Tuesday evening.

Mandelbaum recounted his experience traveling through the intersection for the first time, making history.

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

He said they now have 98% of track construction completed and three more trams will be on the route by the end of the year.

“A lot of big street car news is going to happen throughout the rest of this year and into next year,” he said.

They will be introducing one of the new streetcars “soon,” according to Mandelbaum, who said it looks similar to the streetcars on the route right now, but the interior will be a different experience with its passenger information system that includes different signs and announcements. audio.

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