Transportation
East-West Streetcar Could Cost $600M, Need New Funding Source
By Kevin Collison Kansas City has reached the end of the track when it comes to expanding its streetcar system unless it adopts a broader approach to local funding, according to a new study exploring a potential east-west route. It would cost $450- to $600 million to build a streetcar line from the KU Medical…
River Market Parking Woes Prompt Plan Commission to Oppose Apartment Tower
By Kevin Collison The proposed City Harvest apartment tower by the City Market, a City Hall priority for three years, stumbled over the ongoing challenge of parking in the area this week at the City Plan Commission. The Plan Commission voted 4-3 to recommend denial of the 300-unit project after hearing from River Market merchants…
After Years of Resolve, Backwater Bridge to Become Leisure Destination
By Kevin Collison Mike Zeller’s dogged pursuit of his vision to convert a rusty backwater bridge in the West Bottoms into a major entertainment destination is expected to launch next month. On March 5, a crew from L.G. Barcus & Sons Construction is scheduled to begin removing rails and ties from the 118 year-old Rock…
Fire By Downtown Freeway Latest Flare-up in MoDOT’s Trash Problem
By Kevin Collison The Crossroad district’s frustration with MoDOT’s inability to care for its property, including a recent fire, is the latest flashpoint over the agency’s shortcomings maintaining the downtown freeway right-of-way. “MoDOT is either non-responsive or takes no action,” said Suzie Aron, a past president of of the Crossroads Community Association. “All of us…
Mac Wins Key Support for Big Apartment Plan at Main and Armour
By Kevin Collison Mac Properties’ ambitious plan for a 10-story apartment and retail complex at Main and Armour received crucial support Wednesday from a City Council committee, one year after its initial proposal for the site was rejected. In a unanimous vote, the Council Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee endorsed what’s now a 300-unit project…
Rail Delivered for Final Stretch of Streetcar Extension on Main
One year after the arrival of its initial rails near Crown Center, the final delivery is underway near UMKC for the steel required to complete the 3.5-mile long streetcar extension on Main Street. Trucks will be delivering the 429 rails necessary to build the southern half of the streetcar route during the next couple weeks,…
North Kansas City Streetcar Plan Hits $222M Roadblock
By Kevin Collison A proposal to extend the streetcar to North Kansas City has hit a hard fiscal reality; it’s far too expensive to build utilizing the local funding method that has developed the system so far on Main Street and to the riverfront. It would cost up to $222 million to extend the streetcar…
Mac’s Apartment Plan at Streetcar Stop Endorsed Over Neighborhood Objections
By Kevin Collison In what could be a significant policy decision for future development along the expanded streetcar line, City Hall’s desire to promote greater residential density overruled neighborhood objections over parking Tuesday. The City Plan Commission unanimously endorsed a 318-unit development plan being pursued by Chicago-based Mac Properties at Main and Armour. It would…
Regional Skate Park, Artworks, Could ‘Enhance’ New Buck O’Neil Bridge
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published Feb. 3, 2022) By Kevin Collison Creating a regional skate park beneath the approach ramps to the new Buck O’Neil Bridge is among the ideas in a report prepared by a group tasked to enliven what’s now a bland infrastructure project. Work is well underway on the $220…
Planning for Greenline Downtown Recreational Trail Makes Progress
By Kevin Collison The proposed Greenline recreational trail loop around downtown has received significant funding to help plan its eastern and southern legs, and advocates are hopeful it will land $750,000 in additional federal assistance soon. “There has been some good and exciting momentum on some of the sections,” said Jared Campbell of the Downtown…