Kansas City’s Expanding Streetcar System Competes with Metro Contemporaries as A Public Attraction
Kansas City is fast stepping up its game, with its expanding streetcar system trying to match the pace of its contemporary metropolitan transport systems. The city hopes to boost its appeal to the public through its improved transport infrastructure that includes trolleys and light rail as part of its asset packages.
Comparison with European Counterparts
Taking a global comparison, Kansas City may still have some mileage to cover. In Poznań, Poland’s fifth-largest municipality with a population nearly equivalent to Kansas City, there are an impressive 20 tram lines that accommodate almost every location frequented by the city’s 140,000 higher education students. Such transport systems are seen as “crucial” in students’ lives.
The Extension of Kansas City’s Streetcar Line
While Kansas City may not replace Poznań soon as a hub for transit-oriented students, there is progress in motion. Thirty-five years after its previous tram service ended, an extension of the KC Streetcar line to the University of Missouri, Kansas City, is underway. This move follows a recent trend in American higher education of utilizing campus streetcar systems to enhance student recruitment competitiveness.
Trolley Systems as Assets
The presence of streetcar systems in urban centers is not only celebrated for its convenience but also acknowledged for its contribution to mitigating climate change. For instance, the University of Utah’s University Line, constructed around the turn of the millennium, has consistently grown. Students, staff, faculty, and visitors to the campus are regular users of the line. The light rail gets people to places quickly and efficiently, reducing the dependance on gas-emitting vehicles.
Resurrecting Legacy
In a bid to improve its transportation infrastructure, Kansas City is reinventing a once-familiar transport system. Midcentury, the Kansas City Public Service Company operated across Missouri and Kansas with up to 25 lines, five more than Poznań currently. The ongoing extensions of the streetcar system align with Kansas City’s transport legacy while ensuring sustainable and convenient transportation.
Connecting the Dots with Rail Systems
Existing heavy rail systems can be more effectively linked to the public through campus streetcars, alleviating the dependence on automobile transportation. In College Park, Maryland, the upcoming Maryland Purple Line light rail route will facilitate such connections. The purple line will connect several suburban locations with existing transit on or near the University of Maryland, College Park, campus.
Future Outlook
The KC Streetcar Authority is not basking in the current progress, recently initiating a second extension which will connect downtown Kansas City to Berkley Riverfront Park. The completion of this new route is targeted for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As for the UMKC extension, it should be ready to serve the public by 2025.
Conclusion
When complete, the trolley system’s length in Kansas City will have tripled in size, and eight new vehicles will double its current fleet. The city hopes that the extended streetcar line will not only serve campus-goers but attract a wider spectrum of residents as it becomes a critical tool for moving around Kansas City.
