KC Streetcar Announces Grand Opening for UMKC Extension

The KC Streetcar extension to the UMKC campus will begins service on October 24. FILE PHOTO.

Posted July 24, 2025

The KC Streetcar unveiled plans for the grand opening of the $352 million streetcar extension to UMKC.

The City of Kansas City, as well as the Kansas City Streetcar Authority and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, announced that residents can expect to use the streetcar extension to UMKC on Friday, October 24.

A celebration event is planned for the morning of the grand opening, with public passenger services beginning immediately after, according to a Thursday release.

The KC Streetcar Main Street Southern Extension adds 3.5 miles to the existing downtown streetcar route. The southern terminus, located at Union Station, will connect to 51st Street and Brookside Boulevard on the UMKC campus.

The extension will add 15 new stops and eight new streetcar vehicles, bringing the fleet total to 14. With the addition of the expanded route, the KC Streetcar will span nearly six miles from the City Market to UMKC.

“The grand opening of the Main Street Extension represents our community’s investment in generational growth, providing more opportunities for more residents and visitors alike while remaining fare-free for all. Mark your calendars to join us,” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said in the release.

The project was funded through $200 million in federal grant funds through the Federal Transit Administration and $152 million in local funds provided by the Main Street Rail Transportation Development District. The City of Kansas City, Missouri, served as the extension’s project manager, while construction was a joint venture between Herzog Contracting Corp. and Stacy and Witbeck and supported by Burns & McDonnell and JE Dunn Construction.

The Kansas City Streetcar Authority is also working on another extension to the streetcar route at the Berkley Riverfront. The Riverfront extension will cover 0.7 miles, connecting from the streetcar line at 3rd & Grand to the midpoint of Berkley Riverfront Park, west of CPKC Stadium. The extension will cost $61 million and is expected to open in time for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.