TKC QUESTION: SHOULD KANSAS CITY START CHARGING TOY TRAIN STREETCAR RYDERZ?!? EVERYBODY ELSE DOES!!!



At the end of the Summer the toy train looks exceptionally empty and those unverified, celebratory, propaganda ridership numbers seem to be slowing down in frequency . . . Maybe a few consultant checks didn't clear at the start of this month.

Whatever the case . . .

OUR BLOG COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO QUESTION KANSAS CITY'S FREEBIE STREETCAR PROFIT MODEL!!!

Actually, the streetcar is a money loser but I digress . . . Here's the word:

"Is the KC streetcar the only one in the nation that does not charge a fare? In Cincinnati, Tickets are $1 to ride for two hours and $2 for an all-day pass"

The KCMO Freebie streetcar line is the exception to the rule when it comes to free service but a fee for the short ride would be hard to collect in the current configuration. 

Should KC think about charging for streetcar rides? Tell us why . . .

Comments

  1. bad idea.

    People wouldn't pay and it would be even more empty.

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  2. ^^^^^^^ What should that tell you?

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  3. OF COURSE riders should pay. When people pay for something they value it more and the revenue could be used to start work on the extension.

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  4. WEZ SHUD NOTZ CHARGEZ DE RYDERZZ BEECAUZZE DA STREETCARZ IZ A SZUPER WAYZ 2 GETZ AROUNDZ!

    You lost. Crying babies wear out their welcome fast.

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  5. The current line is really too short for anyone to charge a fee. Currently it would be more expensive to install ticketing machines than they would be able to collect for the rides. Just not worth it. Ultimately YES, rides should cost money and should be integrated with RideKC. Keep in mind, while streets seem to be free for everyone, they still cost money to build and maintain. Same thing with the streetcar. Both are paid by taxes.

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  6. The real reason for charging fares is to stop the homeless from using the service as a rolling shelter.

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  7. agreed. the current small segment isn't really worth the trouble in collecting fares. It is convenient for me when i go downtown. I have used it a few times. I also know where to park for free and not get a parking ticket as others have mentioned elsewhere. Now, it would be worth 2$ to go from UMKC/plaza to Sprint Center. Then suddenly you have actual destination places on both the north and side sides of the train. Eat at your favorite plaza restaurant (since apparently nobody eats anywhere along the current tracks) and hop the train to Sprint or Kauffman Center. Now there's an idea!

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  8. NO! We pay $225 a year in streetcar property taxes on our $200,000 condo!

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    Replies
    1. 434: If the city does charge, the people on the line like you should get a free yearly pass.

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  9. We'll be delighted to spend OUR MONEY on the Plaza when it goes to the new Whole Foods! This is why we moved downtown! We'll spend OUR MONEY in Westport and The Plaza when the extension is finished! Everybody here does not want the expenses of a car!

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  10. The streetcar should remain free and not be extended. Buses should also be free so people who actually need it can get a free ride--just like the developers the city is constantly subsidizing.

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    1. 4:50 nailed it on the money

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  11. $2 before 2:00pm
    $2 after 2:00pm
    $3 all day
    free if you get shot

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  12. News flash to the downtown people. There already are buses that will take you to The Plaza and UMKC. They are big and red. You might want to check them out.

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  13. We need us a super duper giant and colossal QuikTrip downtown along that trolley line! Right there where that tire shop is! That way the cars and trolley can co exist in peaceful harmony!

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  14. Ding Ding Ding! and over here to the right ladies and gentlemen is the fabulous and futuristic QuikTrip trolley fill up station! Be sure to try out the Gen 27 super gulp and long johns!

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  15. QuikTrip Trolley Stop


    LOL!

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  16. Just raise my taxes !

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  17. Fewer people riding that I can see, the novelty is gone. That is why they need to extend it, gotta keep that money train rolling before people find out it's a ripoff.

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    Replies
    1. You're not very close. Look at numbers, not the few times you happened to see the train. It's doing well.

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  18. I just wish downtown and midtown would start paying for their sewers instead having the northland pay for them.

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  19. I cannot wait until the snow and ice this winter to see how the Streetcar does. And who's going to be able to park their cars inside the Streetcar white painted stripes in the street when they can't see them under the snow and ice? Which of course will bring the Streetcar to a grinding halt, unlike a bus that would just go around the parked cars.

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  20. The tourist can afford to pay $5 or $10 to ride the attraction. We are not letting them into the zoo for free. Charge fare for the streetcar and make the buses free.

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  21. The streets will heated during the winter months

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  22. There would be little cost to add machines to dispense tickets at each of the trolley stops. Then it is operated on the honor system with authorities checking for tickets occasionally and big fine if you get caught without one. Wake up KCMO this is how the rest of the world operates.

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  23. All other cities in US charge for their trolley rides. Can KCMO afford to give away a service the tourist will pay for?

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  24. KCMO should rely on the experience of other cities that have had the streetcar awhile. They charge a fare and it seems to work. What in the world is the reason for not charging a fare?

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  25. The only reason I know of for not charging is David Johnson said nobody would ride it if they charged a fare.

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  26. Make it just like the neighborhood car wash is. You walk up to a machine feed in some cash or your debit card and get 10 tokens for $5.00. Every time you board the trolley you have to drop a token in the kitty. Gee how hard is that to do?

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  27. 7:14, seriously? We're paying to heat the streets just for a streetcar that is no faster than a bus?

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  28. Charge $2 to ride, $3 to ride and eat $4 to ride drink and eat!

    Win Win for restaraunts, convenience stores and the trolley!

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  29. The free trial period is over. If the trolley is something people want, they will pay to ride it.

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  30. Nice one Dave. I like the idea.

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  31. Best to better still have to be free , cause I an me home Boyz gotta be getting a FREE ride too get our as black ass Blunts at the shit hole in the Plaza

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  32. Charging to ride the streetcar would eliminate the use of the River Market as a park n ride lot. Those people would go back to driving their cars and parking closer to where they work.Most of the parking problems in the City Market would go away.

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  33. In a Socialist Country the streetcar would be free to encourage the choice of public transportation over private, but this is a Capitalist Country so you will eventually charge a fee to keep poor people from riding.

    America's War on the Poor has led to an increase in crime, but just as you won't believe that guns have anything to do with gun violence, you won't believe that your War on the Poor is the root cause of crime.

    You prefer your Racist Mythology: Let's make racial hatred protected free speech,, & then tout eugenics as the real reason for crime rather than simple cause & effect.

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  34. ^^^^^^Some good points, and I definitely agree there's a war on the poor in this state, but most poor people are not black, so the war is more classist than racist.

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  35. They shouldn't even consider charging until the line is extended. Then? Maybe. But right now, it's seldom taking people more than 1 mile somewhere, and if they charge, people will just walk it....

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  36. ADD A FEE AND SEE IF PEOPLE REALLY WILL RIDE IT. THAT WILL HELP US MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO BUILD AN EXTENSION!!

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