The four streetcars for the startup phase of the Kansas City Streetcar program will operate seven days a week, 365 days a year.
"We'll always have one in reserve just in case anything were to happen," said Kansas City Streetcar Authority spokeswoman Donna Mandelbaum. "We always have one so our services won't be interrupted."
Hours of operation
Here are the hours of operation the KC Streetcar will have when it starts taking passengers in April.
Monday - Thursday 6 a.m. – Midnight
Friday 6 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Saturday 7 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Sunday 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- There will be no fare to ride the two-mile Union Station to River Market route.
- Each of the 16 one-way stops will last about 15 seconds.
- One way will take just over 13 minutes, 30 minute/round trip.
In an effort to maintain safety and cleanliness, the KC Streetcar Authority said riders will be required to disembark and remove all belongings when returning to Union Station.
"The streetcar operator will make a sweep to check and make sure everything is OK and go back to the front of the vehicle. People can then board back onto the streetcar vehicle and head back north," said Mandelbaum.
Uniformed police officers will also have a presence during peak hours, weekends and during large-scale events.
Rules for the rail
You wont see any streetcars speeding. Since they will share the roadway with bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers, they must abide by all driving laws, including speed limits.
"It is a serious machine. It is 78,000 pounds, so if it does have to stop very abruptly, it takes about 60 feet for it to stop when traveling 25 mph. So all the more reason to be safer around the streetcar," said Mandelbaum.
Helping to keep traffic moving will be the Smart City program, a system of computers and sensors connected to intersection traffic lights.
"So if it's a streetcar coming north or south but there are tons of cars going east and west, it will make adjustments for that," said Mandelbaum.
Metro drivers are already adjusting to new parking requirements along the route. Cars must stay within the white lines or face getting a ticket and a tow.
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"That means your entire vehicle has to be within the white line, including your side mirror," said Mandelbaum.
Parking
Mandelbaum said if you can’t find parking along the two miles, there are about 1,200 public parking spots within a two-block radius of the route.
What’s next
The third streetcar is expected to arrive in KC the last week of January, and the fourth should arrive in March.
"We're gearing up for an April public opening," said Mandelbaum, who hints that a soft launch could come in March.
"An earlier soft launch where we can test out the little kinks in the system before it goes open publicly. We really feel that when the public sees this and sees how it works and works within our downtown environment, it will be a real testament to how we can expand this system further," said Mandelbaum.
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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
