Phase Three Streetcar Expansion

[normalthings]

Are longer platforms a consideration at all on Mainstreet if prices come in below expected? Or is the emphasis more on spending extra funds on more vehicles

No. Just run more service. This region has no idea what high frequency transit can really be like. There are bus routes in larger cities with 3-5 minute headways. Streetcar topped out at 8m when running four vehicles and the most frequent MAX route was 10m (and that won't return for awhile until sales tax revenue improves -- max is 15m now).

I would much rather see more vehicles myself.

People hate waiting in the weather. If you know the next train is 5 minutes away it seems far more likely someone will decide they're happy to wait on the next train if they get unlucky and miss one.

I'm on board with more vehicles. Would also think that buying more upfront today could be used for future extensions. IE. Buy 3 extra today and need 3 less for a Linwood extension

[DaveKCMO]

No. Just run more service. This region has no idea what high frequency transit can really be like. There are bus routes in larger cities with 3-5 minute headways. Streetcar topped out at 8m when running four vehicles and the most frequent MAX route was 10m (and that won't return for awhile until sales tax revenue improves -- max is 15m now).

I would much rather see more vehicles myself.

People hate waiting in the weather. If you know the next train is 5 minutes away it seems far more likely someone will decide they're happy to wait on the next train if they get unlucky and miss one.

I'm on board with more vehicles. Would also think that buying more upfront today could be used for future extensions. IE. Buy 3 extra today and need 3 less for a Linwood extension

You can do that with local money, but not really federal money. They don't want agencies to exceed a certain ratio of spares.

[WoodDraw]

I agree with more vehicles. Getting the headways under ten minutes makes a huge difference. Even if you just miss one then and it's a nice day, you stroll to the next station. Or just wait.

It's a killer when you walk out of some place and see a ~15 wait though.

[flyingember]

Since it’s yet unclear what it means

Watch for news on an E-W streetcar effort

https://twitter.com/tomgerend/status/14 ... 61539?s=21

[AlkaliAxel]

So is he implying E-W will be built at the same time as NKC built?

[normalthings]

Not necessarily but I highly suspect northland rail and urban core e/w streetcar will be included in a regional proposal later this year.

[Riverite]

Not necessarily but I highly suspect northland rail and urban core e/w streetcar will be included in a regional proposal later this year.

Would that mean a regional finding mechanism?

[langosta]

KCK to KCMO streetcar will not happen.

[normalthings]

Not necessarily but I highly suspect northland rail and urban core e/w streetcar will be included in a regional proposal later this year.

Would that mean a regional finding mechanism?

Yes. It’s in the works right now. Plan coming out around October per the website.

OneRideKC.org

[Riverite]

That’s good I think this may be the best way to get regional funding, you are giving something to the northland the east side and downtown.

[normalthings]

KCK to KCMO streetcar will not happen.

Agree that route feels like a much bigger lift. A few miles of nothingness would be hard to bridge unless the federal gov pays for the entire thing

[Riverite]

KCK to KCMO streetcar will not happen.

Agree that route feels like a much bigger lift. A few miles of nothingness would be hard to bridge unless the federal gov pays for the entire thing

I feel like one that ran down independence then up heart of America would be a much easier sell

[DaveKCMO]

Please temper your expectations and get in the boat and row when it's out. Seriously. So many plans have failed due to death by 1,000 cuts. This is a heavy lift and it won't be perfect, which is why it's never been successful. Lots of masters need to weigh in on whatever is proposed and there will likely be compromises that will affect all of your fantasy maps.

[TheLastGentleman]

KCK to KCMO streetcar will not happen.

Agree that route feels like a much bigger lift. A few miles of nothingness would be hard to bridge unless the federal gov pays for the entire thing

Last I checked, we don’t have any rivers “a few miles” wide

[FangKC]

Technically, a KCMO to KCK route might go down 39th Street west of Main stopping at Rainbow Boulevard without crossing any river.

[langosta]

KCK to KCMO streetcar will not happen.

Agree that route feels like a much bigger lift. A few miles of nothingness would be hard to bridge unless the federal gov pays for the entire thing

Last I checked, we don’t have any rivers “a few miles” wide

The viaduct is a few miles isn’t it

[TheLastGentleman]

The viaduct is a few miles isn’t it

Who said it had to take the viaduct

[beautyfromashes]

KCK to KCMO streetcar will not happen.

Agree that route feels like a much bigger lift. A few miles of nothingness would be hard to bridge unless the federal gov pays for the entire thing

I think you both underestimate a state getting zero rail dollars from the federal government when the checks are being handed out and Senators and Representatives screaming how "Kansas never gets any of this money!". They think they deserve a piece of every pie and need a project to get money designated to.

[flyingember]

KCK to KCMO streetcar will not happen.

Agree that route feels like a much bigger lift. A few miles of nothingness would be hard to bridge unless the federal gov pays for the entire thing

The viaduct originally had rail on it. The rails were original in 1907 and removed in 1936.

If they could do it in 1907 we can do it today.

Though I agree that it wouldn’t be the best route

[FangKC]

It depends. The original intercity viaduct wasn't an interstate highway. There are probably rules as to whether a streetcar can run on an interstate highway surface. More likely, it would run on surface streets through the West Bottoms.