RideKC is the brand for public transportation systems in the Kansas City metropolitan area .
37-972: The RideKC brand was adopted in August 2014 by the Kansas City Streetcar Authority , operators of the KC Streetcar line then under construction in Kansas City, Missouri . The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority adopted RideKC in November, followed by Johnson County Transit , IndeBus and Unified Government Transit . Buses using the RideKC livery rolled out in Kansas City and Johnson County in October 2015. UG Transit transitioned in 2016, with IndeBus co-branding for
74-502: A TDD would not cover the cost of construction. Other funding sources such as federal grants and local, regional or state taxes would be considered as alternatives. It was noted that a TDD along the route may cover the estimated $ 8 million operating cost of the line. The streetcar is operated by the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, a not-for-profit corporation that is funded by local taxes. The authority
111-554: A metrowide or citywide rail transit system failed at the ballot box, voters in downtown Kansas City approved funding for a two-mile streetcar line in December 2012. In December 2012, the city council awarded a contract to HDR, Inc. to complete a final design for the downtown streetcar line. HDR had previously performed preliminary engineering work. In October 2013, it was announced that Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) would build low-floor Urbos 3 streetcars for
148-560: A mix of public officials, business people, and transit advocates, were appointed by the City Council and Port Authority in late 2012 and met for the first time as an officially sanctioned body in early 2013. The authority's oversight of the streetcar's operation and maintenance is modeled on that of the Portland Streetcar . The city council has the power to appoint some of the authority's directors and retains ownership over
185-573: A one day ridership record was set on April 27, with 21,601 riders. In December 2023, KC Streetcar noted that demand had recovered to 95% of pre-pandemic levels on weekends, and 80% on weekdays. In October 2013, the mayor announced that the system will use 100% low-floor Urbos 3 streetcars made by the American subsidiary of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) in Elmira Heights , New York. The streetcars are numbered following
222-465: A quarter of the investment publicly credited to the creation of the streetcar. The streetcar has also been praised by political leaders and venue operators for making Kansas City more attractive for events, such as the 2021 Big 12 men's basketball tournament and the 2023 NFL draft . In 2021, local businesses stated the extension of the line south to UMKC has also spurred development in the area, with $ 413 million of private investment. In 2023, it
259-451: A streetcar line was preferred over bus rapid transit , and that a route along 39th Street and Linwood Boulevard was preferred. In November 2023, a proposed streetcar route was announced, a 5.6 mi (9.0 km) line from University of Kansas Medical Center to Van Brunt Boulevard using 39th Street and Linwood Boulevard, with 16 proposed stops. Officials noted that the line would cost between $ 560 million and $ 650 million to build, and that
296-493: Is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area 's integrated public transit brand RideKC , and is operated by the Kansas City Streetcar Authority. It is free to ride , as it is funded by a transportation development district . As of June 2024 , the KC Streetcar has had over 14 million rides since its opening in 2016. The initial line is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) long, and construction began in 2022 for extensions north to
333-541: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced it had awarded $ 174 million for the extension, with the remaining $ 177 million of funding coming from the expanded TDD. Groundbreaking occurred on April 6, 2022. In July 2023, Mayor of Kansas City Quinton Lucas called for transit-only lanes on Main Street as part of the work. On August 17th, 2024, streetcars drove south of Pershing Road for
370-610: The Kansas City Current soccer stadium ( CPKC Stadium ). The extension would be funded by the KC Port Authority, as well as by federal TIGER funding. In December 2020, $ 14.2 million was awarded by the FTA towards the extension, with additional funding required from local sources. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project took place on March 1, 2024, with completion anticipated to be in 2026. In September 2021,
407-763: The Muni Metro in San Francisco, California or METRORail in Houston, Texas . In 2023, KC Streetcar had 2,281 average daily boardings per mile, compared to 1,924 for Muni Metro in San Francisco and 1,705 for METRORail in Houston. Following initial high ridership, two additional streetcars were ordered from CAF to service demand. The line celebrated 5 million rides in September 2018. On July 5, 2019,
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#1732776171636444-583: The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program, in August 2013. Passengers ride free of charge, as operating costs are covered by the TDD. Total construction costs were $ 250,000 under budget and operations costs started out under budget. KC Streetcar operation began on May 6, 2016, at approximately 11am. The total opening Friday and Saturday ridership was over 27,000 rides, with
481-669: The United States Department of Transportation . Originally known as Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery ( TIGER ), it began as supplementary discretionary grant program included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 . Initial legislation provided $ 1.5 billion for a National Surface Transportation System through September 30, 2011, "to be awarded on a competitive basis for capital investments in surface transportation projects". The program has been extended several times, and
518-587: The City of Kansas City, Missouri totaling $ 64 million. Construction bonds and operating costs were repaid by a special assessment and 1% sales tax collected inside a transportation development district (TDD) approved by voters in 2012. Both levies are assessed only within the taxing district, which encompasses downtown neighborhoods along the streetcar route. Additional funding included a utility contribution and two federal grants totaling $ 17.1 million. The project received another $ 20 million federal grant, through
555-464: The District of Columbia were selected for funding that totaled more than $ 584 million. In 2015, the seventh round of TIGER grants generated 625 applications requesting $ 9.8 billion worth of projects; of those projects, 60 were road projects, 18 percent were transit projects, and eight percent were rail projects, and port and bicycle and pedestrian projects made up six percent of the total. In 2016,
592-674: The KC Streetcar Authority began studying the potential for a northern extension of the line over the Missouri River to North Kansas City. In January 2023, officials noted this would cost around $ 222 million to build, and that a TDD would not cover all its construction cost. In October 2021, the KC Streetcar Authority and Kansas City Area Transportation Authority began planning an east–west transit line towards University of Kansas Medical Center and Kansas City, Kansas . Initial public consultation indicated that
629-622: The economy of the entire country, transportation safety, and quality of life for communities. The annual grant programs from 2009 through 2017 were generally referred to as TIGER I, TIGER II, etc. though TIGER IX. The program was then renamed as BUILD for 2018, and renamed as RAISE for 2021. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced the TIGER discretionary grants program on February 4, 2009. Lana T. Hurdle, deputy assistant secretary for budget and programs, and Joel Szabat, deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy, co-chaired
666-553: The eighth round of grants awarded 40 capital projects to 32 states plus two American territories. In 2017, the ninth round of grants awarded 41 capital projects to 43 states. The program used the BUILD name for three years, awarding 91 capital projects in 49 states plus the District of Columbia in 2018, 55 capital projects across 35 states in 2019, and 70 projects across 44 states in 2020. The program has been known as RAISE since 2021, and has awarded 90 projects across 47 states plus
703-591: The expansion of the line south, 8 additional streetcars were ordered from CAF, which will more than double the size of the fleet. The first of the expanded fleet arrived in February 2024, and began testing soon after. Expansion planning began in 2014. Two studies covered one line north, crossing the Missouri River and eight lines heading east, west and south from downtown. A ballot proposition in August 2014 to add three new rail lines and an improved bus line failed 40%–60%. A grassroots effort to revisit expansion using
740-564: The first time since 1957 during track testing for the new line. The new track was fully connected with the original track on October 22nd, 2024. As of June 2024 , the extension to UMKC is scheduled to open in early 2025. In August 2017, the KC Port Authority announced plans to extend the line 3 ⁄ 4 mile (1.2 km) north from the River Market toward the Missouri River, connecting to Berkley Riverfront Park and
777-550: The funding allocations as TIGER grants, the US DOT continued to allocate these funds according to the same formula and continued to use the TIGER name. In 2013, 51 projects received TIGER funds, totaling approximately $ 458.3 million. In 2014, the US Congress appropriated $ 600 million for TIGER funds. The US DOT received 797 applications requesting more than $ 9.5 billion. Seventy-two capital and planning projects in 46 states and
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#1732776171636814-542: The line. Pre-construction work, utility-relocation work in preparation for the project, began in late 2013, and construction of the line began in May 2014. Construction was completed in late 2015, with the first streetcar arriving in November 2015 and testing was performed from December 2015 to May 2016. The projected cost of the Downtown streetcar was $ 102 million. The majority of funds came from Special Obligation Bonds of
851-495: The order set up by the original Kansas City Public Service Company numbering system. The first streetcar (801) arrived in Kansas City on November 2, 2015, with testing beginning on November 6. Following initial high ridership, two additional streetcars were ordered from CAF in June 2017 at a cost of $ 12 million. Car 805 arrived on May 13, 2019, and entered service on July 1, 2019. Car 806 arrived on August 26, 2019. As part of
888-805: The project to be shovel-ready . Applicants eligible to receive funding for surface transportation projects include: Qualified projects should result in "desirable, long-term outcomes" for the United States, a state within, or a regional or metropolitan area. According to Title 23 of the United States Code , eligible projects could include improvements to interstate highways , reworking of interchanges , bridge replacements, earthquake -related improvements, relocating roads, upgrading rural collector roads , certain transit projects, passenger and freight rail transportation projects, and port infrastructure. Selected projects might improve
925-616: The riverfront and south to the University of Missouri-Kansas City . In the RideKC system, the KC Streetcar is internally designated as route 601. The downtown streetcar runs along a 2.2-mile-long (3.5 km) route between the River Market and Union Station , running through the central business district and the Crossroads , mostly along Main Street . It makes stops about every two blocks, and has 10 designated stops along
962-424: The route. It connects directly with Amtrak , local and commuter RideKC bus services (including a direct route to Kansas City International Airport ) and several RideKC bike-share kiosks. Proponents tout the initial segment as one of the simplest and straightest modern streetcar routes in the United States. All platforms offer level boarding and real-time arrival information. After earlier efforts to create
999-422: The same legal structure as the starter line was funded by the private sector. An 3.48 miles (5.60 km) extension south to University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) along Main Street is currently under construction, with completion due by early 2025. In August 2017, voters approved the formation of a transportation development district (TDD) to help fund an extension south towards UMKC. In December 2020,
1036-469: The streetcar set a one day ridership record, with 15,559 rides. The COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted ridership, which dropped by two-thirds to just 2,148 daily rides in 2020. In 2021, ridership levels recovered, but to levels lower than before the pandemic. The line celebrated 10 million rides in April 2022. During the 2023 NFL draft three-day weekend in April 2023, nearly 60,000 rides were taken and
1073-521: The system. Daily operations and maintenance of the system is handled by Herzog Transit Services, under joint contract to the Streetcar Authority and the City of Kansas City. The contract was signed in October 2015. Even prior to the opening of the line in 2016, new development was occurring along the route. Analysis by HDR, Inc. stated that the downtown area along the route received $ 1.8 billion of development between 2013 and 2018, with
1110-676: The team responsible for selecting projects and monitoring spending. Out of nearly 1,400 applications who collectively submitted $ 60 billion in applications, the Department of Transportation was only able to award $ 1.5 billion in TIGER grant funds to a just 3% of applicants—51 innovative projects. The U.S. Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development , and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2010 made $ 600 million available for transportation infrastructure investment. On June 30, 2011, Secretary LaHood announced that nearly $ 527 million would go towards
1147-667: The third round of TIGER fund disbursal. On December 15, 2011, that $ 511 million from the TIGER grant program would fund 46 transportation projects in 33 states and Puerto Rico . In 2012, the fourth round of TIGER funding—close to $ 500 million—went to 47 transportation projects in 34 states and the District of Columbia . For fiscal year 2012, Democratic districts won projects that concern ports , multimodal transport , and freight rail transport ; receiving 24% of total funds, rural areas also performed strongly. Although federal funding no longer referred to
RideKC - Misplaced Pages Continue
1184-607: The time being. As part of the consolidation, a regionwide local fare for buses took effect in January 2016. The RideKC website launched in October 2015 consolidating schedules, maps and other information for all participating transit agencies. Kansas City Streetcar Authority The KC Streetcar is a one-route streetcar system in Downtown Kansas City , Missouri . Construction began in May 2014, and service began on May 6, 2016. The KC Streetcar
1221-405: The trains travelling 650 miles. The weekend celebration for the streetcar's opening included music, a free carnival, fireworks, and coordinated specials at businesses. Bus service and bike share service was free to correspond with the launch. City officials stated the line exceeded their expectations, with over 100,000 rides in the first two weeks, and one million rides after 5 months. The line
1258-627: Was incorporated in August 2012 after voters approved creation of the Kansas City Downtown Transportation Development District, a special taxing district that funds construction and operation of a two-mile route through downtown Kansas City . Legal claims against the district and its taxation power were dismissed in August 2013. The streetcar began construction in May 2014, was completed in late 2015, and began carrying passengers in service on May 6, 2016. The Streetcar Authority's 13 directors,
1295-470: Was originally projected to have a daily average ridership of just 2,700. Average yearly ridership levels have been around double this figure. The streetcar is free to ride , and is funded by the local transportation development district . Ridership is calculated by the use of automatic, anonymous passenger counters at each streetcar door – with manual checks to ensure accuracy. Per mile, the streetcar has higher ridership than other major transit lines such as
1332-450: Was renamed as Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development ( BUILD ) in 2018 before taking its current name in 2021. The U.S. government designed TIGER grants in order to incentivize bettering environmental problems and reducing the United States' dependence on energy . On the economic front, the United States hopes infrastructure investment will encourage job creation , a pressing political priority; this would likely require
1369-633: Was reported that investors and developers had purchased over 150 properties along the extension route. Some residents have been concerned that development along the route will lead to gentrification. Other transit in the United States: Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity ( RAISE ) is an American federal government program administered by
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