Feasibility Study Seeks Feedback to Extend Streetcar to Jazz District

Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

The first public session seeking feedback to extend KC Streetcar services eastward was held on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Keystone CoLab (800 E. 18th St.). This feedback session welcomed input from commuters and is step one in a multi-step process that begins with public engagement.

***Donna Mandelbaum, spokesperson for the KC Streetcar Authority and Luke Ranker, City Planning and Development, were on hand to answer questions during a feasibility study on February 3.***

This feasibility study is assessing route options, transit demand, and future planning for the 18th & Vine District and to reconnect with the East Crossroads district currently separated by Highway 71, to provide safe multi-modal east-west access. Thai extension would also support community investment and economic vitality along the 18th Street corridor.

During this two-hour Open House session, participants were asked for input on potential streetcar stops and to assess two possible routes. The distance from the current north-south Main Street line to The Paseo is 1.2 Miles. The projected cost in 2026 dollars would range from $125 to $175 million, depending on the route selected and placement of streetcar stops.

A bi-directional route would travel both east and west along 18th St. to The Paseo but would need to include two turn around points. An alternate route would travel east on 18th St. turn south on The Paseo and west on 19th St, which eliminates turnaround points but only offers one-way services on two different streets.

The official study area, as outlined by the KC Streetcar Authority, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and the City Planning & Development Department, includes Wyandotte Street to Woodland Avenue and 17th St. to 20th St.