Streetcar Ridership Hype Ignores COVID Surge

Local leaders want to shut down schools again but somehow the streetcar seems to be immune to the pandemic given a great deal of irrational exuberance from transit cheerleaders.

Right now we take a peek at their latest blast . . .

KC Streetcar Marks Major Ridership Millstone

(Kansas City, Missouri) – After nearly two years of uncertainty related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the KC Streetcar experiences a continued increase in ridership.  

Near the end of 2021, the KC Streetcar surpassed 1 million passenger trips during the calendar year. This is a substantial increase from 2020 when the total ridership was 782,556. Earlier in 2021, the KC Streetcar increased operating hours and service as the demand for ridership increased.  This was also in response to the increase in activity and the workforce returning to downtown.

KC Streetcar ridership continues to steadily recover since COVID-19 first dramatically impacted ridership in March 2020. 2021 ridership has recovered to approximately 60% of pre-COVID-19 impacts and is up approximately 200% on average compared to 2020 ridership.

The highest ridership day in 2021 was Saturday July 3rd with 10,890 passenger trips. Overall, the Independence holiday weekend was the highest ridership weekend of the year, followed by the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Summer continues to be the highest ridership season for the KC Streetcar. July’s ridership was the highest monthly ridership at 149,713. Click here for more information about  KC Streetcar ridership trends.

While streetcar ridership bounces back, the team remains vigilant in the Covid-19 mitigation efforts established in early 2020. Face masks are still required when riding the KC Streetcar, as are daily cleanings of all streetcar vehicles. Other efforts include the availability of on-board hand sanitizer dispensers and face masks, enforcement of limiting “continuous riding”, equipping operators with wipes, sprays, hand sanitizer and PPE including face masks and gloves, and public messaging consistent with local government, KCMO Health Department, regional transit partners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

Rail for KC Streetcar Main Street Expansion arriving Tuesday

Kansas City, Missouri, is one step closer to completing a huge expansion to the KC Streetcar with a series of deliveries that start Tuesday.Officials with the KC Streetcar Authority said the streetcar team will be taking delivery of nearly 700 tons of rail this week, all dedicated to the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension.The full delivery is expected to take around two weeks, with four trucks per day, totaling in 36 deliveries.The railing will be stored at the intersection of 27th Street and Main Street.