Kansas City's best and brightest believe that a streetcar will create more opportunity and drive economic growth downtown but the recent closing of a streetcar in Crown Center proves otherwise.
Evidence:
Crown Center’s Streetcar Named Desire closing in December
A few observations for transit enthusiasts to consider regarding this Kansas City streetcar demise:
- Crown Center is bustling during the week yet all of that traffic still couldn't sustain this effort. It seems that people want quicker service and more options than the outdated Crown Center streetcar could provide.
- The Crown Center streetcar had a lot of charm but still couldn't make it. Activists touting kcstreetcar.org also have many vocal fans but that might not be enough to make the $125 million dollar project go.
- The Crown Center streetcar had better parking than the upcoming line. Especially in the river market where there is a concern that motorists and the new transit effort will create conflict.
Finally . . .
- The new streetcar leads to the shuttered Crown Center endeavor. Before the new streetcar has even arrived the destination is already doomed. That might be the worst sign yet for local transit enthusiasts.
And all of this begs the question . . .
IF THE CROWN CENTER STREETCAR COULDN'T SUSTAIN ITSELF . . . HOW WILL THE DOWNTOWN TOY TRAIN DO ANY BETTER???
Clearly, not every streetcar is a safe bet in Kansas City. Crown Center offered great sandwiches and world class chili with its streetcar but still failed whereas residents have already rejected a second helping of the Downtown line and supporters are now stuck waiting of the delayed serving of a plan that has already rung up a hefty check.
Developing . . .
Tennessee Williams would not have approved of this blog post but I think it's kinda funny.
ReplyDeleteIf you read the whole story you would see the owners are getting older and didnt want to commit to a 10-year lease. What that has to do with the "toy train" or failure escapes me.
ReplyDelete1:03, "Desire" will become the toy train's dining car.
ReplyDeleteApples and oranges as usual here. Or maybe this has some weird connection to the Sanders resignation?? YOU DECIDE, WHILST I CREATE SOME FURTHER NONSENSE!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a pretty old guy. I've seen the Stella! scene, but never the movie. Walked by the CC Streetcar a bezillion times, but never went in. The reference was way too dated for me, years ago (and sort of creepy).
ReplyDeleteSo what? So, CC is now packed with families on their way to play with Legos and watch fish, rather than adult shoppers and Mai Tai guzzlers. Kids don't want chili, and have no idea what the streetcar even references. The theme has been outdated for several decades, and the menu didn't change with the visitor profile of CC.
But ... just when all those kids were about to find out what a streetcar is, they close it. Seems like time to update the theme and menu, not shutter the place.
Whatever.
This blog is in full on death spiral.
ReplyDeleteWill booze be allowed on the toy train...other than the normal gin?
ReplyDeleteTrying to tie the streetcar to a diner in crown center closing up is pretty weak
ReplyDeleteit was a horrible restaurant. they served their food using Styrofoam plates and plastic cups. there's a real opportunity there for someone who knows how to run a restaurant. Not a nigger of course but a human.
ReplyDeleteStreet car menu is gin, weed and Colt 45.
ReplyDeleteBring your own gun or you can check one out when you board.
Choo, Choo. That train be a coming. All aboard.
If the new streetcars are running late, why not try this one? KC could probably buy it cheap, and it would be so nostalgic.
ReplyDelete