Proposals to expand the Kansas City Streetcar line north to Berkley Park in the Riverfront area were reviewed with residents Wednesday at a public briefing in the River Market area at Steamboat Arabia.
The KC Streetcar Authority, the Port Authority and Ride KC representatives are studying the proposal to expand the streetcar to Berkley Park.
The KC Streetcar Executive Director, Tom Gerend, said proposed Northland expansion would not eliminate the plan to expand the streetcar line south to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
"Well, the south expansion proposal is a completely independent effort. While we are looking at the south extension, the UMKC effort is moving forward," said Gerend.
The north line expansion proposal would be less than one mile to the Riverfront area where new apartments and businesses are under construction.
"The developments and all of the activity and interest and building a whole new community mixed-use office, residential a whole centered down there that is booming could bring people and jobs and life back to the Riverfront is what this is all about," Gerend explained.
The cost of the proposed north line expansion has not been determined. The Port Authority which owns land along the Missouri River in the proposed expansion area would be willing to help pay for the expansion. City leaders are also asking developers in Berkley if they would be willing to contribute to the proposed project.
