KSHB 41 reporter Marlon Martinez covers Platte and Clay counties in Missouri. Share your story idea with Marlon.
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The KC Streetcar Authority is in the early stages of exploring a potential expansion of the streetcar line into North Kansas City, a move that could bring significant changes to the area’s business landscape.
"I definitely think it can spur some redevelopment where that hasn't necessarily occurred in North Kansas City. You know, that's a large part of it is in development, redevelopment, economic activity," said Bryant DeLong, mayor of NKC.
The proposed expansion would extend the existing streetcar route across the Missouri River, linking downtown Kansas City to North Kansas City.
"Bring people from the River Market downtown into North Kansas City where you have existing businesses," DeLong said. "You know, folks like me that live in North Kansas City and work downtown, be able to use that to get to jobs downtown as well."
For many business owners on the other side of the river, it means more foot traffic to an area that continues to grow.
"It helps. More people who see you, they say, 'Oh, I just saw this place when I was driving by or with the streetcar they were passing by,'" said Tiffany Weir, manager at Knockout Haircuts. "Word of mouth is the biggest name for any small business."
While there are benefits to the project, leaders know there are challenges, too.
"Probably the largest hurdle to all of this is the bridge crossing. And that's going to be the expensive part because there's not a lot of economic development, there's not people living on the bridge, so it's kind of a really dead area," DeLong said. "But it's critical to doing that, to completing this project and possibly even expanding further beyond North Kansas City."
Studies for a "NorthRail" extension started in 2014 and continued in 2021-22.
The KC Streetcar is currently seeking a firm to conduct another study. Those proposals are due by Friday, Aug. 23.
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