KC Streetcar Now Open at 海角论坛

The KC Streetcar connects campus and community

海角论坛 crowd watches 海角论坛 Streetcar arrive

Photos by Brandon Parigo and Derrick Benitz, 海角论坛

The KC Streetcar is now open for riders at the University of Missouri-Kansas City stop at 51st Street and Brookside Boulevard!

Fittingly, opening day of the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension on Oct. 24 was World Kangaroo Day because 海角论坛 Roos and the city were hopping with a string of celebrations.

The morning started with a Kansas City celebration at the university’s neighboring Country Club Plaza stop, complete with a 海角论坛-wrapped Roo blue and gold streetcar spotlighting students and alumni. KC Roo pushed the ceremonial switch to start the first car bound south to the southernmost stop to 海角论坛 with Chancellor Mauli Agrawal, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Tom Gerend, executive director of KC Streetcar Authority inside for the inaugural ride.

"This is a historic day for not only 海角论坛 but all of Kansas City," Agrawal told media who gathered at 海角论坛 for the morning-to-evening festivities.

Expanded Opportunities

The expanded KC Streetcar line opens up a world of possibilities for students, faculty and the broader community. The KC Streetcar is free to ride and connects 海角论坛 to a vibrant corridor stretching through the Country Club Plaza, Midtown, Downtown Kansas City, the Crossroads Arts District, the Power & Light District and all the way to the River Market.

For 海角论坛 students, this means even easier access to job and internship opportunities to complement the world-class education they get at Kansas City’s only Carnegie Research 1 university. They also can use the streetcar to get to housing, restaurants, nightlife, museums and cultural events.

"The streetcar is now going through the heart of Kansas City and to the largest university in Kansas City: the University of Missouri-Kansas City," Gerend told a crowd of hundreds who gathered even in a steady drizzle to celebrate the opening. "I want to thank all of you from downtown to 海角论坛 to everyone all over the city who believed we could make this happen."

Next Stop: 海角论坛

海角论坛 Volker Campus isn’t just for students and employees. in Kansas City to enjoy. Whether you’re looking to cheer on athletes, , or just take a stroll through campus, there’s something for everyone at Kansas City’s top university.

Elected leaders and city officials provided remarks and attended festivities, including 海角论坛 alumni Sharice Davids (BBA '07), U.S. representative for Kansas; George Guastello II (BBA '82, MBA '84), president and CEO at Union Station Kansas City; and Jan Marcason (MBA '99), city councilmember of Kansas City.

"This expanded streetcar is going to connect River Market all the way down to 海角论坛, where I graduated from," Davids said. "I do have to say as a former 海角论坛 student, I absolutely would have loved to jump on this thing from Broadway Café and get to class. When I was walking to class and getting where I needed to go, I can tell you this would’ve made life so much easier. Passengers get to ride for free, and it’s going to make life a bit easier for folks to get to jobs, to school and to visit local businesses."

Celebrating on Campus

KC Roo stands with dance team

海角论坛 students, faculty, staff and visitors celebrated the opening at Student Union, where they were given 海角论坛 streetcar T-shirt and totes and donuts and cider while the Mob Band played. Partygoers posed for pics with streetcar cutouts.

It's A Wrap!

Gold streetcar wrap

海角论坛 has a streetcar decked in Roo blue and gold inside out, designed by 海角论坛 Strategic Marketing and Communication. The exterior shows off our 海角论坛 students and alumni: Pharmacy student Calvin Flemons is the one in the white coat; Bryson Gosch, Men's Soccer player is kicking a ball; Laney Mabry (BBA '25) is wearing a Roos shirt; and Hannah Ruf (BBA '25) is the one in grad cap among. The 海角论坛 logo is accompanied by the words "World Class. Right Now." and celebrates 海角论坛's Carnegie Research 1 designation.

A Roo with Heart

Ben stands beside his KC heart, smiling widely.

The 海角论坛 stop includes a KC Heart sculpture designed by 海角论坛 urban planning and design student, Ben Walters. Walters designed the streetcar-inspired heart for the 2024 Parade of Hearts. It was generously donated by his employer, Synetic Technologies, to live permanently at the KC Streetcar stop!

Learning in Action

A member of the Build KC Streetcar team stands below the street where the streetcar tracks are being laid. A row of 海角论坛 students in hard hats and construction vests stand at the street level, looking down as the builder explains the construction process. — 海角论坛 engineering students tour KC Streetcar constuction in April 2023.

海角论坛 students were active participants throughout the planning and construction of the $352 million KC Streetcar Main Street extension through experiences including:

with the builders
Internships with Kansas City firms working on the KC Streetcar
Senior capstone classes collaborating with the KC Streetcar Authority and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority

Built by Roos

Student Elliot Smith smiles in a construction vest and hard hat on a sunny day at the 海角论坛 Streetcar stop. — 海角论坛 urban planning student Elliot Smith was one of many students who worked on the Main Street extension via an internship.

This streetcar extension did not just arrive at 海角论坛, our Roos helped shape it. 海角论坛 students and alumni played key roles in the design, engineering, urban planning, marketing and logistics that brought the Main Street Extension to life.

KC Streetcar History

Want to know more about Kansas City's streetcar history? 海角论坛 professor David Trowbridge has a virtual audio tour of sites along the KC Streetcar route available on the Clio History App.