KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As work continues on the new streetcar line being built from the River Market to Crown Center, there is a movement to expand the streetcar line north of the river. But new figures just released show laying track up into North Kansas City could be too expensive.
If they can get the streetcar over the Missouri River, it would better connect Kansas City with the Northland. It would reduce traffic on area bridges and attract shoppers to travel both north and south, but finding the funds to build it will be a challenge.
The cheapest option is to put track on the Heart of America Bridge, then a single line to 18th Street along Burlington.
Putting down track on the bridge would cost $25 million with the rest of the track to 18th Street costing $56.6 million, for a total of $81.6 million. Expanding the track to 29th Street would cost to $105.6 million.
North Kansas City would have to raise sales and property taxes by one percent to get the bonds necessary to pay for part of the project. They would also need regional help to pay for the laying of the track over the bridge and federal matching to pay for half of the entire project.
While the costs are daunting, supporters believe it would be worth it because it could help boost the North Kansas City economy by attracting more businesses to build there — and people to shop there.
The feasibility study is being conducted by North Kansas City and the MidAmerica Regional Council, and right now they are still in the discussion phase.
As for whether a streetcar track across the river becomes a reality, we’ll have to wait and see if North Kansas City can secure the necessary funding.
As for the current two-mile downtown streetcar line, crews are currently doing utility work and will begin laying track later this summer.
