KCMO Downtown Streetcar

[kboish]

I had brunch at Farmhouse this afternoon. 40 minute wait to get in and sat in a window seat for another hour. Every streetcar that drove by that entire time was basically maxed out. What a beautiful day out today.

[DaveKCMO]

saturday ridership was 13,384, with over 27K for the weekend (fri-sun).

[flyingember]

So this Sat was 8th busiest
Last Saturday was 14th busiest

291 days of operations. So both are in the top 5% of ridership days so far.

[wahoowa]

13,385 if you count the pet bird that went rogue around the metro center stop!

[DaveKCMO]

improved real-time arrival signs went live today:

[KCPowercat]

Great improvement....have the time estimates been fixed?

[hgascoigne]

In the past I have found that simply looking down main st. for the closest streetcar was much more accurate than the time estimates given. Hopefully this addresses some of that.

[DaveKCMO]

Great improvement....have the time estimates been fixed?

at this point, the estimates are only off if one of two things happen:

1. A streetcar at union station experiences a software glitch (not the vehicle, just the route management software), causing it to "disappear" (known issue since launch, no ETA)

2. A missed trip (the trip is scheduled but the vehicle doesn't depart under the expected trip ID).

Long story short, no. The first issue is still being looked at by the vendor (has been hard to reproduce), and the latter is an operations issue that sometimes can't be helped -- such as when swapping out vehicles).

However, you should report every time you see the signs display incorrect info. The map in the smart city app and kiosk is a separate system that's still being analyzed and is your alternative if the physical signs aren't correct.

Also, I have found them to be as accurate as MAX.

[kcjak]

Between the Auto Show and Big XII tourney, this is going to be a HUGE weekend for the streetcar!

[KCPowercat]

As accurate as MAX signs isn't a ringing endorsement but I get that is the hand we are dealt at this point.

[DaveKCMO]

As accurate as MAX signs isn't a ringing endorsement but I get that is the hand we are dealt at this point.

there is a long-term strategy for the region...

[KCPowercat]

Glad to hear... Thanks for the info

[earthling]

You can bookmark this link on your smartphone and get realtime location of the streetcars...
http://smartkcmo.xaqt.com/dashboard#/KC/publicTraffic

Or go to a kiosk and tap the KC Streetcar at bottom of screen, will show realtime locations on map.

[DaveKCMO]

four cars running RIGHT NOW, and possibly for the next two days (assuming there are no maintenance issues). four cars means 7-8 minute headways. best headways for modern streetcar in the US. buying those two additional cars could make this a more regular occurrence.

[earthling]

4 running shows up on live map...
http://smartkcmo.xaqt.com/dashboard#/KC/publicTraffic

[earthling]

Restaurants along streetcar line expecting increased biz for Big 12 given free streetcar allows spreading about downtown more easily...
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... rants.html

Hopefully the Biz Journal does a followup and shows % sales comparisons to last year's tourney.

[KCPowercat]

Anecdotally watching fans and volunteering at fan information fans don't venture far from the arena....Maybe today they will more as there aren't games in the afternoon....Too bad the weather turned chilly.

[earthling]

Streetcars packed to gills again this afternoon and general ped traffic all around downtown. Is there an event going on? I don't notice any.

[flyingember]

Streetcars packed to gills again this afternoon and general ped traffic all around downtown. Is there an event going on? I don't notice any.

Home Show, NAIA basketball and a youth dance competition all at Bartle Hall today.

I would say city market could but we're a little early on that. It doesn't really pick up until June when the farmers have early produce.

[earthling]

^That explains it. Crown Center, Liberty Memorial very busy and of course Union Station.