IPWEA NZ CONFERENCE 2018 ROTORUA The Re-emergence of the Kansas City Streetcar Jason Waldron, P.E., ENV SP Associate Director of Multimodal Transportation City of Kansas City, Missouri, USA
IPWEA NZ CONFERENCE 2018 ROTORUA Kansas City, Missouri
Rotorua, New Zealand “Public works is a powerful instrument for understanding and peace.” – Jennings Randolph (U.S. Senator from West Virginia, 1932-1985, known as the “Dean of Public Works Legislators”) Google Urban Mobility Initiative Outline
Intentional Disruption! 1. Program and Approach 2. Construction 3. Sustainability and Innovation 4. Economic Development 5. Ridership 6. Expansion Then and Now…
Intentionally serves as Supports regional framework for growth RideKC transit & development system
1957 2016 What is a Streetcar?
“Walk Extender” & Shorter “on” and “off” “Pedestrian Accelerator” trips
More frequent service Operates in traffic
Urban Economic Shorter trains Strategy Why the KC Streetcar?
Connects and links Serves as spine for existing downtown KC’s Smart City assets Initiative
Intentionally serves as Supports regional framework for growth RideKC transit & development system
Fits within downtown Major step to context and existing improved regional services system How Did Kansas City Do It? . It starts with engaged stakeholders . Great corridor
. Mayor and Council leadership Supports regional RideKC transit . Driven by an aggressive system schedule . Pay attention to the details Streetcar Funding
Intentionally serves as Supports regional framework for growth RideKC transit & development system
Total Capital Cost ~ $101 M KC Streetcar at a Glance
$101 Million Investment 4.4 Track Miles Spring 2014 Groundbreaking Fall 2015 Substantial Completion 2016 Riders Board System Details
. Single wire overhead contact system (OCS) . Electrically powered (750 V) . 4 traction power substations (up to 1,500 V) . 4 - 3 segment cars (approx. 110 – 150 passengers) (78,000 lbs) . Embedded track . “Hybrid” outer running Service Plan
. Free to ride . 10 minute frequencies during peak hours . Smart City Kiosks & Real time arrival signs . Level boarding & ADA compliant design . 16 Streetcar stops, every 2-3 blocks . Integration with regional and local connecting KCATA buses (RideKC Partnership) & Bicycles KC Streetcar- Our Timeline AA Study initiated- April, 2011
AA Study approved- September, 2011
ACE/EA initiated- February, 2012
Rezoning/Land Use Policies- March, 2012
KCSA Formed- August, 2012
Federal STP/CMAQ Secured- August, 2012
Completed EA (FONSI)- October, 2012 Supports regional Final Design initiated- December, 2012 RideKC transit TDD Lawsuits- Feb- Oct, 2013 system Start of Utility Work- Sept, 2013
Start of Streetcar Construction- May, 2014
Substantial Completion of Constr.- December 1st, 2015
Arrival of 1st Car November 1st, 2015
Testing and Federal Approvals May 1st, 2016
Public Opening May 6th, 2016
1,000,000th Ride October 7th, 2016 Construction Joint Venture - Construction Manager at Risk Construction Utilities - Spaghetti Monster, Vaults, Mains… Construction Maintaining Access During Construction Construction Traffic Control Sustainability Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF)
. LEED Gold Rating
. Vehicle Storage in Yard During Non-Revenue Service
. Heavy Maintenance Bay with Pit and Overhead Walkway
. Light Maintenance Bay
. Wash Bay to Clean Vehicles
. Operations and Control Center Catalyst for Innovation
. Multi-Level Platforms . Pedestrian Detection Supports regional RideKC transit . Adaptive Traffic Signals system . LED Streetlights Catalyst for Innovation
. Smart City / Free WiFi Supports regional . Bicycle Box / Signal RideKC transit system . 100% Low Floor Vehicle . Back-In Angle Parking Catalyst for Innovation Block Rail
Supports regional RideKC transit system
5 6 /8”
< 3” Project to Program
Technical Capacity Public Awareness Project to Program Culture Change
If you are going to have an Supports regional incident… RideKC transit system Communications
. Professional Expertise . Comprehensive . Door to Door Supports regional . Device to Device RideKC transit system . Seamless . Stakeholders Celebrate Our Successes!
Supports regional RideKC transit system Measuring Success - Development Downtown Development by the Numbers:
. $2.1 Billion in new downtown development
. 94 major private development projects
. 6,400 new residential units
. 1,976 new hotel rooms
. 7 projects sited the KC Streetcar as a “major positive factor” in decision making
Unprecedented Momentum Measuring Success - Development Mixed-Use Hotels
~6,400
~2,500 Restaurants Measuring Success - Ridership . Total Ridership (5/31/18) 4,208,391 . Highest Ridership (5/17/17) 17,267 . Forecasted Daily Average 2,700 . Average Daily Average 5,434Supports regional RideKC transit system Measuring Success - Ridership
Supports regional RideKC transit system Use of Streetcar by Age
Have you used the KC Streetcar in the last year? Yes No
37% 62% 68% 76% 82% Supports89% regional RideKC transit system 63% 38% 32% 24% 18% 11% 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Age Group Friends of KC Streetcar (Mobility)
Supports regional RideKC transit system System Expansion Potential Extensions
Potential River Riverfront Extension RIVER (~0.5 mi) MARKET LOOP
Starter Line (2.2 mi) CROSSROADS
Union Station Crown Center Potential Southern Extension MIDTOWN (~3.5 mi)
Plaza
UMKC Operating U.S. Streetcars
Seattle Tacoma Portland Lowell Kenosha Supports regional San Francisco Salt Lake City CincinnatiRideKCWashingtontransit Kansas City systemD.C.
Memphis Charlotte
Tucson Little Rock Atlanta Dallas
New Orleans Tampa Galveston Planned U.S. Streetcars
Supports regional RideKC transit system
Streetcar Systems in Planning or Design www.kcstreetcar.org [email protected]
@kcstreetcar KC Streetcar Supports regional RideKC transit system Thank you!
Jason Waldron, P.E. Streetcar Program Manager City of Kansas City, Missouri
[email protected] @WaldronKC