Tiger grant to provide major boost for Downtown Streetcars

The Downtown Streetcar project received a shot of adrenaline last Friday, when the federal government announced the City of Kansas City will receive a $20 million federal transportation grant.

The grant will be used to help fund construction of the 2- mile streetcar system that is expected to become operational in about two years. The federal grant is expected to cover about 20 percent  of the $102 million in project costs for the streetcar system that will run from Union Station to the River Market.

The north-south streetcar route (approximately 4 miles round trip) will operate on City streets and connect the River Market area, near the Missouri River, to the renowned Crown Center/Union Station area and will also serve the Central Business District, the Crossroads Arts District and the Kansas City Power & Light District. The route will run largely on Main Street.

“This streetcar project will encourage housing, construction, and business development in the city, and that will mean more jobs across the region,” U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill told The Kansas City Star. ”

The Star followed on Wednesday with an editorial that said, “Kansas City’s planned two-mile streetcar system doesn’t have the potential, at least yet, to move many people. But it could help spur downtown development, and that’s important progress.” Click here to read The Star’s complete opinion piece.

Click here to read more of reporter Lynn Horsley’s story for The Star. 

Click here to read coverage from Austin Alonzo for The Kansas City Business Journal.