By Joe Jarosz and
Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
December 16, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Days before the second streetcar arrived in Kansas City, there was already reason to celebrate.

The Kansas City Streetcar Authority announced in a press release that they were awarded a $20,000 grant from Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI). This grant helps with public awareness and safety education efforts related to the Respect the Rail campaign while also utilizing OLI’s “See Tracks? Think Train!” messaging. As part of the grant partnership, the KC Streetcar Authority will use these funds to increase public awareness of rail transit safety and how to stay safe on and around the KC Streetcar. The campaign will also leverage a partnership with local nonprofit BikeWalkKC in a coordinated effort to disseminate safety messaging for pedestrians, bicyclists and those with disabilities.

Tom Gerend, executive director of the KC Streetcar Authority, said they are thrilled to partner with the Operation Lifesaver team in deploying a streetcar safety campaign that will have local and national appeal.

“The streetcar safety messages encourage alertness during both the testing and full operations phases of the streetcars,” Gerend said.

The KC Streetcar Authority officially launched the Respect the Rail campaign this past August while construction was still ongoing and streetcar vehicles were not yet in Kansas City. Since then, two cars have arrived and safety activities have included outreach about parking and driving on the streetcar route, the dangers of overhead wires, and new track access permits and procedures. Additionally, the KC Streetcar Authority produced several videos focusing on various messages such as pedestrian access and testing safety, which are available online at www.kcstreetcar.org.

On Wednesday, Dec. 9, city officials celebrated the arrival of Kansas City’s second streetcar, #802, from vehicle manufacturer CAF USA, Inc. This is the second in a fleet of four streetcar vehicles. The new vehicles are known as the 801-804 series, picking up the numbering where the city left off more than 50 years ago with the 725-799 streetcar series.

The streetcar was offloaded onto the tracks located along Second Street, just east of Oak Street and transported to the Kite Singleton Vehicle Maintenance Facility, 600 East Third St. KC Streetcar #802 will undergo shop testing for several days before it starts testing on the tracks.

At the arrival, Mayor Sly James said the arrival signaled another huge day for Kansas City.

“Every time that we have a vehicle delivered, we’re that much closer to being up and able to run and being able to make our lead times,” James said. “I’ve always thought that this whole idea of bringing rails to this area would be transformative and all you have to do is look around downtown and the TDD and it is transformative.”

Integrated systems testing of KC Streetcar #801, which arrived earlier this fall, is more than 70 percent complete. Donna Mandelbaum, KC Streetcar Authority’s marketing and communications manager, said each streetcar vehicle is approximately 77 feet long, weighs 78,000 lbs., and has 34 seats with a maximum rider capacity of 150 people. It offers level boarding at all of its 16 stops, making it easier for bike riders, wheelchairs and strollers to board and disembark from the vehicle. Mandlebaum said vehicles three and four should arrive early next year.

“We’re anticipating public ridership on the Streetcar in Spring of 2016,” Mandlebaum said.