KCRag Forum

Ballasted? So railroad ties on a crushed stone bed?
This small stretch (and the potential extension to the casino) would be a nice place to do the grass covered track beds seen in Europe.

Critical_Mass wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 2:17 am Ballasted? So railroad ties on a crushed stone bed?
This small stretch (and the potential extension to the casino) would be a nice place to do the grass covered track beds seen in Europe.

That’s what the 30% drawings show. Grass is even more expensive than embedded so this VE’d line would never spring for it.

I personally prefer the ballasted aesthetic. I worry that a grass track would not be properly respected in the park environment.

When my mind flipped this extension from being a riverfront detour to just elongating the single line with the current loop turning into a divided path it is making a lot more sense.

normalthings wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 2:57 am

Critical_Mass wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 2:17 am Ballasted? So railroad ties on a crushed stone bed?
This small stretch (and the potential extension to the casino) would be a nice place to do the grass covered track beds seen in Europe.

That’s what the 30% drawings show. Grass is even more expensive than embedded so this VE’d line would never spring for it.

I personally prefer the ballasted aesthetic. I worry that a grass track would not be properly respected in the park environment.

For a park environment ballasted makes sense.
Stone in a park could be the difference in safety for more people. It demarcs the line better from the park.

Imagine a small child isn't paying attention while walking back to their car. Now imagine they're vision impaired and can't see to the side. (Had a middle school student teacher in this situation, he could see forward only) Their cane will hit the ballast and they'll find the track much quicker than with stone.

People who are vision impaired will sometimes get help to learn a new environment prior to independent travel, so they can be guided that stone means danger in that spot.

https://www.kcata.org/procurement/kcata ... -extension

Final Design Consultant RFP:

If funding becomes available, the Consultant will be asked to design another possible half-mile extension
of the streetcar line from the Riverfront station to the I-35 bridge area. This additional work will be
completed under an amendment to this contract.

Great to see that

RF Station 1 will be at Parcel 13/Union. RF Station 2 will be infront of the volleyball courts. Current phase will build out just to Station 1. Resolution to approve the streetcar extension agreement was approved by the Port Board.

Great news thanks for the update!

Three years to operations, nice!

Is the extension to the casino being built with the rest of the first phase dead?

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:16 am Is the extension to the casino being built with the rest of the first phase dead?

That will require additional funding.

I understand that, I guess my question is the plan far enough along that if funding came in now they still wouldn't be part of this construction plan that opens in 24?

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:16 am Is the extension to the casino being built with the rest of the first phase dead?

I think Phase 2 is to the east end of Berkley Riverfront Park (volleyball and F&B). Isle of Capri is kinda out there in space.

Phase 1 is 30% designed. Expansions past Phase 1 aren't being designed just yet but the final design contract has an option for them to be included.

Even if we were granted an earmark tomorrow there's no way to know if the openings could or should align because the additional extension has had very little design work completed and depends very much on what the casino and PortKC plan to do with the land they control over there (not to mention the MoDOT complication -- which is always a complication).

Am I correct in saying that they are moveing to design an further extension of the streetcar along the riverfront?

Port KC is launching Phase 2 of the riverfront streetcar extension. With much of the streetcar land under LOI or in discussions and stimulus coming up, they want to go ahead and get the ball rolling.

Approved: Plan and engineer study to a Phase 2 riverfront extension.

This would work well with an extension of the Riverfront Heritage Trail to connect with the Blue River Trail system.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:40 pm This would work well with an extension of the Riverfront Heritage Trail to connect with the Blue River Trail system.

Should we expect any other streetcar studies moving forward soon?

normalthings wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:42 pm

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:40 pm This would work well with an extension of the Riverfront Heritage Trail to connect with the Blue River Trail system.

Should we expect any other streetcar studies moving forward soon?

Perhaps in preparation for regional funding, as the TDD model used downtown and midtown doesn't translate to other parts of the region.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:45 pm

normalthings wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:42 pm

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:40 pm This would work well with an extension of the Riverfront Heritage Trail to connect with the Blue River Trail system.

Should we expect any other streetcar studies moving forward soon?

Perhaps in preparation for regional funding, as the TDD model used downtown and midtown doesn't translate to other parts of the region.

Interesting. Sounded like this project was being advanced ahead of stimulus so wasn't sure if there were others like that in the works.